Journal of NACAA

Utilizing the Poultry Carbon Foot-Print Calculation Tool to Estimate and Mitigate the Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Broiler Complexes in Different Regions of Georgia

ISSN 2158-9429

Volume 16, Issue 1 - June 2023

Editor: Linda Chalker-Scott

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from three broiler complexes located in southern Georgia, central Georgia and northern Georgia. The estimations of the greenhouse gases were done using a Poultry Carbon Footprint Calculation Tool, designed specifically to calculate emissions from broiler grow-out farms, pullet farms or breeder farms. Activity data from a specific year were collected from ten broiler farms in a complex from each region. The activity data were then used to calculate the emissions from mechanical sources (heaters, etc.), non-mechanical sources (manure, etc.), and electricity use. The calculation tool was also used to make recommended changes on the farms, which would reduce the emission.

The results from the study showed that there were no significant differences (p≤0.5) from non-mechanical sources among the three complexes. However, the study also showed that farms in the southern region of the state had significantly higher (p≤0.5) total GHG emissions (463.5 kg CO2e per year) than the farms in the central and northern regions of the state. It was also observed that the projected emissions (after improvements) from mechanical sources from all three complexes were significantly reduced from the current emissions. For example, the emissions from the farms in the central region of the state were reduced from 314.6 kg CO2e per year to 187.4 kg CO2e per year. The results from the study showed that GHG from poultry production farms may differ based on many different factors and location might be one factor.

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