Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Subsistence Dairy Livestock in Rural Livelihoods in the Northern Andes of Ecuador

Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from livestock raise the increase of temperature worldwide. They contribute 14.5% of global emissions while enteric fermentation is the largest contributor (39.1%). The main objectives of the current study were: a) to determine the socio-productive characteristics at the household/farm level and b) to estimate the GHG emissions of dairy farms. This study was conducted in the Andes of northern Ecuador. Sociodemographic information and characteristics of the farms were obtained through field surveys. In order to estimate GHG emissions, the Cool Farm Tool program (version 0.11.36) was used. The probabilistic technique of cluster sampling was performed, with the support of a key informant, while the survey lasted some 45 min each. Hereby, we surveyed 73 mestizo people, being 54.79% male and 45.21% female, with an average experience in milk production of 23 years, distributed in 20 homes in 15 communities. The average values have been of pastures with 3.1 ha in 5.07 ha of farm, with a herd of seven animals, a milk production of 33 l/day and a price of 0.37 dollars/liter. The estimate of GHG emissions indicated that 81% of livestock emissions derived from enteric digestion. Methane from enteric digestion is higher for some species (ruminants) than others, demonstrating that changes in diet potentially improve such scenario. Most of the emissions originated from the management of pasture residues, occupying 82% of the total. These may be compensated by directly incorporating such residues or its compost and using it in soil.