Evaluation of greenhouse gas emission potential of agricultural by-products: A comparison of rumen in vitro digestibility,  IPCC tier 2 equations based on life cycle inventory databases

Youngjun Na; Jun Sik Woo; Na Kyun Lee; Keun Kyu Park; Yoosung Park; Yongjun Choi

doi:10.11109/JAES.2025.27.3.138

All Issue

2025 Vol.27, Issue 3 Preview Page Next Page

Research article

Evaluation of greenhouse gas emission potential of agricultural by-products: A comparison of rumen in vitro digestibility, IPCC tier 2 equations based on life cycle inventory databases 국내 농업 부산물의 온실가스 배출 잠재력 평가: 전 과정 목록 데이터베이스 기반 반추위 체외 소화율 및 IPCC 2단계 방정식 비교

31 December 2025. pp. 138-144

PDF XML

Abstract

This study evaluated the methane emission potential of major feed ingredients and agricultural by‑products used in Korean ruminant systems by comparing three approaches: rumen in vitro digestibility, the 2019 IPCC Tier 2 equations, and life cycle inventory (LCI) databases. Ten conventional feeds and ten agricultural by‑products were selected based on domestic use or generation volume and classified as fibrous, protein, or energy sources. Their chemical composition (proximate analysis, fiber fractions, gross energy) and rumen in vitro gas production, methane production, and digestibility were measured to derive enteric methane emission factors and corresponding CO₂‑equivalent values. IPCC Tier 2‑based methane factors were estimated from feed energy and NDF levels, while LCI‑based emissions for feed production were obtained from Agri‑Footprint and Ecoinvent. Methane emission factors derived from in vitro digestibility were generally higher than those from IPCC equations, and the three methods often produced markedly different values for the same ingredient, indicating strong method dependence of emission estimates. Some by‑products, including lupin seed, beet pulp, and cabbage/Chinese cabbage by‑products, showed relatively low enteric methane emission factors per unit of digestible energy and lower production‑stage emissions, suggesting mitigation potential when they partially replace cereals or conventional forages. However, in vitro fermentation reflects substrate‑specific fermentation more sensitively than animal‑level intake and passage dynamics, IPCC Tier 2 relies on generalized Ym/MY coefficients not fully validated for by‑product‑rich Korean rations, and foreign LCI databases may misrepresent domestic production conditions. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the greenhouse gas emission potential of domestic feed resources and agricultural by-products by comparing rumen in vitro digestibility, the IPCC Tier 2 method, and whole life cycle inventory databases.

Keywords

Greenhouse gas

Methane

Agricultural by-product

Life cycle inventory

Rumen in vitro digestibility

References

AOAC, 2005. Official methods of analysis of AOAC International 18th edition. Available from: http://www.worldcat.org/title/official-methods-of-analysis-of-aoac-international/oclc/62751475

Choi, Y., Lee, S., Na, Y., 2020. Effects of a pineapple (Ananas comosusL.) cannery by-product on growth performance and carcass characteristics in finishing Hanwoo steers. Animal Bioscience, 34:233-242. doi:10.5713/ajas.20.0234.

10.5713/ajas.20.023432819084PMC7876721

Cruanyes, C., Alcaraz, O., Sureda, B., 2024. Evaluating long-term low emission development strategies and implications for the remaining global carbon budget. Climate Policy, 24:691-705. doi:10.1080/14693062.2023.2260785.

10.1080/14693062.2023.2260785

Eggleston, H. S., Buendia, L., Miwa, K., Ngara, T., Tanabe, K., 2006. 2006 IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories. Available from: https://www.osti.gov/etdeweb/biblio/20880391.

Gavrilova, O., Leip, A., Dong, H., MacDonald, J. D., Gomez Bravo, C. A., Amon, B., Barahona Rosales, R.A., Prado, D., Oyhantçabal, W., Van Der Weerden, T., 2019. Emmisions from livestock and manure management. Available from: https://www.sidalc.net/search/Record/dig-alice-doc-1119362/Description.

Haque, M. N., 2018. Dietary manipulation: a sustainable way to mitigate methane emissions from ruminants. Journal of Animal Science and Technology, 60:15. doi:10.1186/s40781-018-0175-7.

10.1186/s40781-018-0175-729946475PMC6004689

Heo, J.-Y., Baek, S.-W., Lee, H.-K., 2022. Impact of beef self-sufficiency improvement in Korea on global greenhouse gas emission reduction. Journal of Intellectual Property, 6:1-9. doi:10.12972/jabng.20220001.

10.12972/jabng.20220001

Herliatika, A., Widiawati, Y., Jayanegara, A., Harahap, R. P., Kusumaningrum, D. A., Shiddieqy, M. I., Sasongko, W. T., Asmairicen, S., Hadiatry, M. C., Putri, A. S., Handiwirawan, E., Kostaman, T., Praharani, L., Adiati, U., 2024. Meta-analysis of the relationship between dietary starch intake and enteric methane emissions in cattle from in vivo experiments. Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research, 11:212-230. doi:10.5455/javar.2024.k767.

10.5455/javar.2024.k76738680797PMC11055588

Jeong, H.-H., Yeo, U.-H., Lee, S.-Y., Park, S.-J., Kim, J.-G., Decano, C., Choi, Y.-B., Cho, J.-H., Kim, J.-H., Lee, I.-B., 2021. Analysis of livestock life cycle assessment (LCA) regarding environmental assessment factors and its possible application toward Korean livestock LCA. Journal of Animal Environmental Science, 23:44-51. doi:10.11109/JAES.2021.23.1.044.

10.11109/JAES.2021.23.1.044

Jo, N., Kim, J., Seo, S., 2016. Comparison of models for estimating methane emission factor for enteric fermentation of growing-finishing Hanwoo steers. Springerplus, 5:1212. doi:10.1186/s40064-016-2889-7.

10.1186/s40064-016-2889-727516950PMC4967067

Mertens, D. R., Collaborators, 2002. Gravimetric determination of amylase-treated neutral detergent fiber in feeds with refluxing in beakers or crucibles: collaborative study. Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL, 85:1217-1240. doi:10.1093/jaoac/85.6.1217.

10.1093/jaoac/85.6.1217

Möller, J., Collaborators, 2009. Gravimetric determination of acid detergent fiber and lignin in feed: interlaboratory study. Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL, 92:74-90. doi:10.1093/jaoac/92.1.74.

10.1093/jaoac/92.1.74

Rinehart, L., 2008. Ruminant nutrition for graziers. National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) Yarmouth, ME, USA. Available from: https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ruminant.pdf.

Scicutella, F., Foggi, G., Daghio, M., Mannelli, F., Viti, C., Mele, M., Buccioni, A., 2025. A review of in vitro approaches as tools for studying rumen fermentation and ecology: effectiveness compared to in vivo outcomes. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 24:589-608. doi:10.1080/1828051X.2025.2463507.

10.1080/1828051X.2025.2463507

Son, A.-R., Kim, S.-H., Valencia, R. A., Jeong, C.-D., Islam, M., Yang, C.-J., Lee, S.-S., 2021. Kimchi cabbage (Brassica rapa L.) by-products treated with calcium oxide and alkaline hydrogen peroxide as feed ingredient for Holstein steers. Journal of Animal Science and Technology, 63:841-853. doi:10.5187/jast.2021.e75.

10.5187/jast.2021.e7534447960PMC8367413

Park, W.-K., Park, N., Shin, J., Hong, S.-G., Kwon, S., 2011. Estimation of biomass resource conversion factor and potential production in agricultural sector. Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 30:252-260.

10.5338/KJEA.2011.30.3.252

Ministry of Environment, 2022. National Inventory Report.

Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Animal Environmental Science & Technology
Publisher(Ko) :(사)한국축산환경학회
Journal Title :Journal of Animal Environmental Science
Journal Title(Ko) :축산시설환경학회지
Volume : 27
No :3
Pages :138-144
Received Date : 2025-12-23
Revised Date : 2025-12-29
Accepted Date : 2025-12-30
DOI :https://doi.org/10.11109/JAES.2025.27.3.138

Journal of Animal Environmental Science ISSN:1226-0274(Print) 축산시설환경학회지

All Issue