About this Research Topic

Background

Native and tame temperate and tropical grasslands are amongst the largest and most important ecosystems in the world as they store vast amounts of carbon, promote biodiversity and contribute to food security by supporting grazing ruminants. Milk and meat are valuable sources of essential nutrients, and their demand is projected to increase by 2050, particularly in developing countries. Enhancing the efficiency of ruminant production in grassland ecosystems will be an essential component in achieving climate change targets. However, on an intensity basis grazing ruminants produce more greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than those produced in intensive production systems such as feedlots. Mitigation of GHG emissions in grazing ruminants has proven to be particularly challenging, but technologies that accomplish this objective will be essential to achieving meaningful reductions in GHG from ruminant production systems. This special issue will focus on integrated animal - plant management practices that can be used to reduce GHG emissions in grassland ecosystems.

Grazing ruminants, including cattle, sheep and goats, can be produced in non-arable lands including mountains and other terrain that is unsuitable for the production of cultivated crops. In these environments, these animals can consume plants that have little or no nutritional value for humans such as grasses, legumes, and shrubs. Based on this, the aim of this Research Topic is to gather and present GHG mitigation strategies applicable to grazing ruminant production systems, with consideration of the interactions that occur between the animal and the plant. A systems approach to assessing GHG emissions from grazed grassland ecosystems is encouraged, with an appreciation as to how mitigation strategies impact the nutrition, health, welfare and productivity of ruminants.

The specific themes covered in this Research Topic should have GHG mitigation as its main focus. Measuring GHG production is not mandatory, but at the very least there should be strong evidence that GHG reductions could be achieved in grassland ecosystems. This may include reduction in CH4, CO2 or N2O. Submissions with the following subjects, but not limited to, will be welcome:

- Use of multi-species pastures such as grass-legume intercropping and silvopastoral systems for ruminants;
- Supplementation of rumen fermentation modifiers in grazing systems;
- Use of plant secondary bio-active compounds from forage crops (preferably those applicable to grazing animals);
- Forage and pasture managements capable of reducing GHG production intensity (i.e. emissions per unit of animal product), including those aiming to provide increased soil carbon sequestration in grazing lands
- Novel techniques and approaches for measuring or estimating GHG production from grazing animals

Keywords: cattle, grasslands, methane, nitrous oxide, sustainability, small ruminants

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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