Budgeting anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission from Indian livestock using country-specific emission coefficients

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the livestock sector are confined to enteric fermentation and manure management. The present inventory is focused on estimation of GHGs using country-specific emission factors for ruminants based on Indian Feeding Standards as a measure of gross energy intake. The thrust is on uncertainty reduction by adopting country-specific animal performance data leading to the development of more refined emission factors. The estimated GHG emission is 9.0 Tg methane and 1 Gg nitrous oxide for the year 1997, and in terms of CO 2 equivalent it is around 190 Tg. Methane emission is the dominant one, while nitrous oxide is negligible. Enteric fermentation is the major source of methane, accounting for 90% of total methane compared to 10% from manure management. Ruminants, especially bovines are the largest source (91%). The estimate also highlights hotspots, emission density, methane emissions from dairy and non-dairy bovines, milk yield vs methane, which are useful in formulating mitigation strategies. The abatement option in the Indian context is also highlighted.