Research Information System
III. International Agricultural, Biological & Life Science Conferences, Edirne, Turkey, 1 - 03 September 2021, pp.115-120, (Full Text)
Animal production is one of the most important sources of methane (CH4) emissions in
agriculture. Especially, ruminant livestock animals account for the majority of global
anthropogenic methane emissions. The main sources of methane emissions from livestock
animals are microbial fermentation (80%) and manure (20%). Methane is a serious greenhouse
gas with 25 times the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2). Therefore, its impact on global warming
cannot be ignored. Sheep production is common in Turkey as it requires less capital and
investment, creates labour capital in the region where it is made, adapts quickly to climate
conditions and is a preferred source of animal protein. According to the Turkish Statistical
Institute (TUIK) data, the sheep population has increased by 66% in the last 17 years. In this
study, enteric methane emissions from sheep production in Turkey in the last seventeen years
were determined by the Tier-2 method determined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC). Methane emission factor (EF) was determined on average 11,6 kg
CH4/head/year, and the gross energy was determined 33,3 MJ/day. Accordingly, enteric
methane emissions from sheep breeding have increased by 72,9% since 2004, and it has been
calculated that 517 kilotonnes of CH4 emissions were realized in 2020. It is predicted that the
increase in emissions will continue depending on the increase in sheep numbers for the
following years. For this reason, effective precaution should be taken on a farms basis or
nationwide to reduce enteric methane emissions. Scientists need to focus more on this issue.