How I Offset 5 Tons of Carbon Per Year Using Turkeys as Natural Grass Cutters

I announced on the Facebook Page of Alpha Agventure Farms on May 25, 2024, that I would start discussing in July how my way of farming contributes to the solution to climate emergency.

The climate emergency is a pressing global issue that requires collective action from all sectors of society, including agriculture. Livestock farming, in particular, plays a significant role in climate change due to its substantial greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and resource consumption. As the world grapples with the effects of climate change, it is crucial for livestock farmers to become part of the solution.

In this article, I will mention the reasons why livestock farmers must take action, the potential consequences of inaction over the next 5 to 10 years, and the current status of the climate emergency as of 2024. I will also discuss how my more than 100 hybrid turkeys help offset the emission of at least 5 metric tons of CO2 that would have been produced by using a gasoline-engine grass cutter.

The Role of Livestock Farming in Climate Change

Livestock farming is a major contributor to climate change, primarily through the emission of greenhouse gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the livestock sector is responsible for approximately 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The majority of these emissions come from:

1. Enteric Fermentation: Ruminants, such as goats, sheep, buffaloes, and cattle, produce methane during digestion through a process known as enteric fermentation. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential more than 25 times that of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.
2. Manure Management: The decomposition of livestock manure produces methane and nitrous oxide. The method of manure management significantly influences the volume of greenhouse gases emitted.
3. Feed Production: The cultivation of feed crops often involves the use of synthetic fertilizers, which release nitrous oxide, another potent greenhouse gas. Additionally, land-use changes, such as deforestation for feed crop production, result in carbon dioxide emissions.
4. Land Use and Deforestation: Livestock farming requires large amounts of land for grazing and feed production. This demand often leads to deforestation, which contributes to carbon emissions and biodiversity loss.
5. Resource Consumption: Livestock farming consumes significant amounts of water and energy, contributing to resource depletion and environmental degradation. Now you understand why I also teach the formula for the water consumption of chickens in my Chicken Farming Seminar and for goats in my Goat Farming Seminar.

The Need for Livestock Farmers to Act

Given the significant impact of livestock farming on the environment, it is imperative for farmers to adopt sustainable practices that reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to climate change mitigation. By doing so, livestock farmers can help ensure a more sustainable future for agriculture and the planet. Key reasons for action include:

1. Environmental Responsibility: Livestock farmers have a responsibility to minimize their environmental impact and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.
2. Economic Benefits: Sustainable farming practices can lead to cost savings, increased efficiency, and improved profitability in the long run. For example, optimizing feed efficiency and manure management can reduce input costs and enhance productivity. Feeding and biosecurity programs for poultry and ruminants are two of the many programs I teach my clients who avail themselves of my farm consulting service.
3. Consumer Demand: There is a growing demand for sustainably produced food products. By adopting environmentally friendly practices, livestock farmers can meet consumer expectations and gain a competitive advantage in the market.
4. Regulatory Compliance: Governments around the world are implementing policies and regulations to address climate change. Livestock farmers who proactively adopt sustainable practices will be better positioned to comply with evolving regulations.
5. Resilience to Climate Change: Sustainable farming practices can enhance the resilience of livestock systems to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, droughts, and disease outbreaks.

Potential Consequences of Inaction

If we, livestock farmers, fail to act collectively to address the climate emergency, the consequences could be severe over the next 5 to 10 years. Potential impacts include:

1. Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Without action, greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming are likely to continue rising, exacerbating global warming and climate change.
2. More Frequent and Severe Extreme Weather Events: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, floods, and storms. These events can disrupt livestock production, damage infrastructure, and threaten food security. This July 23, 2024, Super Typhoon Carina, also known as Gaemi, and the southwest monsoon have caused substantial agricultural and infrastructure damage estimated at nearly P18.5 million, while 211,000 people have sought refuge in evacuation centers, and 90 roads remain impassable across the country.
3. Resource Scarcity: Continued environmental degradation and resource depletion could lead to water scarcity, soil degradation, and reduced availability of arable land, making it increasingly challenging to sustain livestock production.
4. Biodiversity Loss: Deforestation and habitat destruction associated with livestock farming contribute to biodiversity loss, threatening ecosystems and the services they provide.
5. Economic Losses: The impacts of climate change, such as reduced crop yields, livestock losses, and increased production costs, could result in significant economic losses for farmers and the agricultural sector as a whole.
6. Social and Political Instability: The effects of climate change, including food and water scarcity, could lead to social and political instability, exacerbating conflicts and displacement.

Current Status of the Climate Emergency in 2024

As of 2024, the climate emergency remains one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity. The latest reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlight the urgent need for immediate and transformative action to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Key findings and developments include:

1. Rising Global Temperatures: Global temperatures continue to rise, with 2023 being one of the hottest years on record. The increase in average temperatures is contributing to the melting of polar ice, rising sea levels, and more frequent heatwaves.
2. Extreme Weather Events: The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods, have increased, causing widespread damage and loss of life.
3. Carbon Emissions: Global carbon emissions remain high, driven by fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and industrial activities. While some progress has been made in transitioning to renewable energy sources, significant reductions in emissions are still needed.
4. International Climate Agreements: Countries are working to implement the commitments made under the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C. However, current efforts are insufficient to achieve this goal, and stronger action is needed.
5. Public Awareness and Activism: There is growing public awareness of the climate emergency, with increased activism and advocacy for climate action. Movements such as The Climate Reality Project Philippines, led by young activists, are demanding urgent and ambitious climate policies.

Steps Livestock Farmers Can Take

To become part of the solution to the climate emergency, livestock farmers can implement a range of sustainable practices and strategies:

1. Improve Feed Efficiency: Optimizing feed efficiency can reduce methane emissions from enteric fermentation. Farmers can use high-quality feeds, supplements, and feed additives to enhance digestion and reduce emissions. I have formulated a feeding program specifically designed for each of the 20+ animals at Alpha Agventure Farms.
2. Adopt Manure Management Practices: Implementing effective manure management practices, such as anaerobic digestion and composting, can reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions while producing valuable biogas and organic fertilizers.
3. Promote Agroforestry and Silvopasture: Integrating trees and shrubs into livestock systems can enhance carbon sequestration, improve biodiversity, and provide additional sources of income.
4. Enhance Pasture Management: Implementing rotational grazing and sustainable pasture management practices can improve soil health, increase carbon storage, and enhance productivity.
5. Reduce Land-Use Change: Minimizing deforestation and land conversion for livestock farming can reduce carbon emissions and protect biodiversity.
6. Utilize Renewable Energy: Transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease reliance on fossil fuels.
7. Engage in Climate-Smart Agriculture: Adopting climate-smart agricultural practices, such as precision farming and sustainable water management, can enhance resilience to climate change and improve resource efficiency.

Now that I’ve discussed the role of livestock farming in climate change, the need for livestock farmers to take action, the repercussions of inaction, the current status of climate change in 2024, and the measures livestock farmers can adopt, I’d like to share how my hybrid turkeys work hand-in-glove with me to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by no less than 5 metric tons of CO2 per year.

How I Save 50.59 kg of CO2 Per Year Using Turkeys as Natural Grass Cutters

My hybrid turkeys are excellent foragers. Based on my experiment, a hybrid turkey aged 6 months and older can turn 3 square meters of space grass-free in one day on average.

Did you know that if a turkey can effectively keep 3 square meters of space grass-free per day, I save approximately 0.1386 kg (138.6 grams) of CO2 emissions that would have been produced by using a gasoline-engine grass cutter for the same area?

That’s 50.59 kg of CO2 emissions prevented in one year by a single turkey! Thanks to my turkeys for replacing a gasoline-powered grass cutter.

Since I have more than a hundred turkeys, they prevent at least 5 metric tons of carbon emissions per year.

I’ll show you how I arrived at 50.59 kg of CO2 emissions per year per turkey.

1. Fuel Consumption of Gasoline-Engine Grass Cutter
   Fuel Consumption: 1 liter of gasoline is consumed per hour of grass cutting.
   Area Coverage: The grass cutter can clear 50 square meters in 1 hour.
2. Carbon Emissions from Gasoline
   Emission Factor: Burning 1 liter of gasoline produces approximately 2.31 kilograms of CO2.
3. Carbon Emissions for 50 Square Meters
   1 liter x 2.31 kg CO2/liter = 2.31 kg CO2
4. Carbon Emissions for 3 Square Meters
   (3 sq. m. / 50 sq. m.) x 2.31 kg CO2 = 0.1386 kg CO2
5. Carbon Emissions Savings for 1 Year Per Turkey
   0.1386 kg CO2 x 365 = 50.59 kg CO2

Comparing Engine Emissions and Natural Alternatives

• Two-stroke engines are generally less efficient and produce more pollution (such as unburned hydrocarbons) compared to four-stroke engines, though the CO2 emissions per liter of gasoline remain roughly the same.
• Two-stroke engines often emit more than just CO2, including unburned hydrocarbons and other pollutants, but those are not directly calculated here as CO2 is the primary focus for carbon emissions.
• Using turkeys or other livestock can provide additional benefits such as natural fertilization and reduced noise pollution.
• t promotes ecological balance by utilizing natural processes over mechanized solutions.

Sources of Carbon Emissions in Turkey Production

Yes, turkeys do contribute to carbon emissions, although not directly in the form of methane as cattle do. Instead, their carbon emissions are primarily associated with several aspects of their production and management. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how and when turkeys contribute to carbon emissions:

• Feed Production
  • Land Use: The cultivation of feed crops (such as corn and soybeans) requires land, which can lead to deforestation and loss of carbon-sequestering ecosystems.
  • Fertilizer Use: Synthetic fertilizers used in growing feed crops emit carbon dioxide (CO2) during their production and application, as well as nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas.
  • Transportation: Transporting feed from production sites to turkey farms results in additional CO2 emissions from fuel combustion.
• On-Farm Energy Use
  • Heating and Cooling: Maintaining optimal temperatures in turkey barns requires energy, often derived from fossil fuels. This energy use contributes significantly to CO2 emissions.
  • Lighting and Ventilation: Electricity used for lighting and ventilation systems also contributes to carbon emissions, depending on the energy source.
• Manure Management
  • Decomposition: While poultry manure management primarily releases nitrous oxide, the decomposition of manure can contribute to carbon emissions if not properly managed.
  • Storage and Handling: Manure storage and handling can result in emissions, especially if it is not managed to minimize greenhouse gas release.
• Processing and Transportation
  • Slaughtering and Processing: The energy required for processing turkeys, including slaughtering, packaging, and refrigeration, contributes to carbon emissions.
  • Transportation: Transporting processed turkey products to markets involves CO2 emissions from fuel combustion.
• Overall Farm Management
  • Use of Machinery: The operation of farm machinery for various tasks, from feeding to manure handling, involves fuel consumption and subsequent CO2 emissions.

Carbon Emissions Estimates From Turkey Farming

Quantifying the exact carbon emissions from turkey production can vary based on factors such as farming practices, feed composition, and regional differences in energy sources. However, general estimates can be provided:

• Feed Production: It is estimated that feed production accounts for about 60-70% of the total carbon footprint of poultry farming, including turkeys.
• Farm Operations: On-farm energy use, including heating and ventilation, can contribute another 10-15% to the carbon footprint.
• Processing and Transport: The remainder of the carbon footprint (approximately 20-30%) comes from processing, transportation, and other related activities.

How to Mitigate Carbon Emissions Brought by Turkey Farming

To mitigate carbon emissions, several sustainable practices can be adopted:

• Improving Feed Efficiency: Optimizing feed formulation to improve feed conversion ratios can reduce the overall carbon footprint by requiring less feed production.
• Renewable Energy: Utilizing renewable energy sources (such as solar or wind power) for farm operations can significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
• Efficient Manure Management: Implementing systems to efficiently manage manure, such as anaerobic digestion, can help reduce emissions from decomposition.
• Localizing Supply Chains: Reducing transportation distances for feed and final products can lower associated emissions.

Turkeys produce carbon emissions primarily through the indirect processes involved in their production, such as feed production, energy use, and processing. While the emissions from turkeys are lower than those from ruminants like cattle, they still contribute to the overall carbon footprint of agriculture, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices to reduce their environmental impact.

The climate emergency is a critical global challenge that requires urgent and collective action from all sectors, including livestock farming. By adopting sustainable practices, livestock farmers can reduce their environmental impact, enhance resilience, and contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change. Failure to act could result in severe consequences for the environment, economy, and society. As we face the challenges of the climate emergency in 2024, it is essential for livestock farmers to become part of the solution and work towards a more sustainable and resilient future for agriculture and the planet.

I am not the first to raise turkeys in the Philippines, and I am not the only one who raises turkeys in the world, but I am the first to publish a report on how much carbon emissions are offset by free-ranging turkeys in pasture areas to cut the grass instead of using a gasoline-powered grass cutter or lawnmower. I will continue to experiment, discover, and document my findings on how Alpha Agventure Farms, despite being only a small-scale livestock farm, plays its part in becoming a solution to the climate emergency. Stay tuned to the RESOURCES section of this website for more updates.