Thesis abstract:

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock activities account for approximately 10-12% of global emissions, with dairy cow production systems accounting for about 30%. Agriculture is the second largest contributor to Australian GHG emissions, accounting for 14% of total emissions, and livestock farming for 70% of total agricultural emissions (Panchasara, Samrat, and Islam 2021). Despite the increasing trend in absolute GHG emissions, GHG emissions intensities have declined globally and are approximately 60% lower today than in the 1960s. This is mainly due to meat and milk productivity improved. This suggests that more effort is still needed to reduce GHG emissions intensities to mitigate GHG emissions. This can be achieved through a variety of approaches with a focused feed manipulation feed additive, and forage quality improvement. As a result, my research thesis focuses on developing a low-cost methane sensor for cattle and analyzing GHG gas emissions from Australian dairy farms using various concentrate-level feeding systems.