Determination of energy effi̇ci̇ency parameters and carbon footprint of egg poultry farms with different planning system in konya province

The impact of carbon footprints, which have contributed to climate change and global warming in recent years, has become a significant issue. Animal husbandry businesses generate carbon emissions from production, energy use, and manure management. Understanding the impacts of these emissions and developing practices to eliminate or mitigate potential harmful effects are crucial for environmental protection and healthier livestock farming operations. This research was conducted in the Konya region between 2023 and 2024 to determine the energy efficiency parameters and carbon footprints of egg-laying poultry farms with different planning systems operating in the Konya region, which ranks third in egg-laying poultry farming in Türkiye. The study aimed to calculate and compare energy budgets (energy inputs and energy outputs) for 12 egg-laying poultry farms in Konya province, which have poultry houses with different planning systems (high- and low-capacity enriched cage systems, conventional cage systems, and free-range floor systems). The study also aimed to calculate and compare energy efficiency parameters and, consequently, "energy-related carbon footprint values." The study also aimed to calculate the carbon footprint values of egg-laying poultry farms operating in the Konya region using the TIER1 Method according to the IPCC approach and to create an intensity map of total carbon dioxide emission values. The study also aimed to calculate and compare CH4 and N2O emissions and carbon dioxide equivalents (carbon footprints) from 12 egg-laying poultry farms selected for the purpose of the study operating in the Konya region using the TIER1 and TIER2 Methods according to the IPCC approach. The research was carried out in 3 different stages. In the first stage of the research; the energy data of 12 egg poultry enterprises (37 chicken houses and 2,664,624 hens in the enterprise) selected in accordance with the research purpose among the egg poultry enterprises with different planning systems in Konya Region were used as research material. The energy input (feed, electricity, machinery, diesel, oil and human labor) and energy output (eggs, hatched chicken meat and manure) data in the enterprises examined were collected and recorded for one year (September 1, 2023 - August 30, 2024). In this stage of the research (1), energy efficiency parameters, "energy-related carbon footprint" and total carbon dioxide emission amount were calculated in the egg poultry enterprises where the study was conducted. While 1 kg of egg production and 1000 chickens were taken as the basis in the calculations and the energy output, the amounts of manure and hatched chicken meat were also used in the calculation of energy efficiency parameters. The energy efficiency parameters in the enterprises where the research was conducted were; Energy use efficiency (EEE), Net Energy Production (NEÜ), Energy Efficiency (EV), Egg Production Energy (EEG), and Egg Production Value (EVAP) were calculated. The selected egg poultry farms in the study were evaluated in four groups, taking into account their poultry planning systems: high-capacity enriched cage farms (Group I), low-capacity enriched cage farms (Group II), conventional cage farms (Group III), and free-range floor farms (Group IV). The study was conducted using a randomized plot design. The Tukey test was used to compare group energy data. In the second category of the study, an inventory of the poultry farms in the Konya Region was created to calculate the carbon footprint of all egg poultry farms operating in the Konya Region using the TIER1 Method according to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approach. Data (enterprise characteristics, poultry house planning systems, animal numbers, manure management practices) from egg-laying enterprises operating in the region were obtained through consultations with relevant public and private institutions. Using TIER methods, the carbon footprints of enterprises and their animals were determined using values recommended in the IPCC 2023 guideline, based on the characteristics of the enterprise and livestock activities, such as climate characteristics of Turkey and the Konya region where the study was conducted, animal species, production efficiency, and manure management. Furthermore, a detailed carbon dioxide emission (global warming potential) density map was created for the research area of Konya Province and its districts. In the third phase of the study, CH4 and N2O emissions and carbon footprint values (carbon dioxide equivalents) from 12 egg-laying poultry farms operating in the Konya region, selected for the purpose of the study and with different planning systems and capacities, were calculated and compared using the TIER1 and TIER2 methods according to the IPCC approach. As a result, the total energy input per 1000 chickens in Group I farms was the lowest (F=0.87; P>0.05) at 717948±180129 MJ (mean±standard deviation), while the total energy output per 1000 chickens was higher at 1571438±51798 MJ (F=0.59; P>0.05). This suggests that the use of high-capacity enriched cage-based poultry farms would be more beneficial for more efficient energy input utilization in newly established egg-laying poultry farms. Additionally, electricity consumption, among direct energy inputs, was determined to have the highest value in Group I with 9.44×10⁶ ± 0.96×10⁶ MJ (F=53.54; p<0.001). Among the indirect energy inputs of the farms, water energy had the lowest value in Group I with 6.72×10⁷ ± 1.27×10⁷ MJ, while it had the highest value in Group IV with 3.06×10⁶ ± 0.92×10⁶ MJ (F=18.82; p=0.001). The energy efficiency parameters of the egg poultry farms where the study was conducted were; The highest EKE, NEV (for 1000 chickens), EV and GVAP values were calculated for Farm-2 and Farm-3 and were 2.79 and 2.97, 975,215.10 MJ/1000 chickens and 941,853.19 MJ/1000t chickens, 38.25 kg/100 MJ and 37.89 kg/100 MJ, 615.10 kg/100€ and 606.11 kg/100€, respectively. In addition, the lowest YÜE values among the enterprises examined were calculated for the same enterprises as 2.61 MJ/kg and 2.64 MJ/kg, respectively. This shows that the most beneficial housing planning system and enterprise capacity in terms of energy efficiency in egg poultry enterprises is farming in enterprises with enriched cage system and high capacity (400,000-800,000 chickens). The study suggests that it would be more beneficial for new egg-laying farms to utilize enriched cage systems, which offer higher animal welfare, and to plan for a capacity of 400,000-800,000 hens. Furthermore, it has been determined that high levels of technology used in farms positively contribute to energy efficiency. As a result of the research, the carbon footprint from energy sources was measured between 0.40 - 0.77 kg CO₂e/kg egg, 43.07 - 94.38 kg CO₂e/kg chicken meat and 79.68 - 160.45 kg CO₂e/chicken. In the enterprises where the research was conducted, the lowest energy-related carbon footprint values were measured in Enterprise-2 and Enterprise-3, and were 0.41-0.40 kg CO₂e/kg egg, 50.23-43.07 kg CO2 e/kg chicken meat, 85.40-79.68 kg CO₂e/chicken, respectively. The highest energy-related carbon footprint values in the study were calculated in Enterprise-1 and Enterprise-12, and the same values were; 0.77-0.68 kg CO₂e/kg egg, 94.38-75.13 kg CO₂e/kg chicken meat, and 160.45-135.23 kg CO₂e/chicken. This suggests that, in order to reduce energy-related carbon emissions in laying hen farming, it would be more beneficial to raise laying hens in enriched cage-system poultry houses and maintain a capacity of 400,000-800,000 chickens. The highest emission values in the study were calculated in Farm-1, a poultry house with an enriched cage system exceeding 800,000 chickens, and in Farm-12, a poultry house with a free-range floor system. While the study observed a decrease in energy-related carbon footprint due to the decrease in farm capacity, the higher carbon footprint in Farm-12 is thought to be due to its very low capacity. This supports the suggestion that it would be more beneficial to reduce carbon emissions by maintaining a farm capacity between 400,000 and 800,000 chickens. A total annual CO₂e emission of 4.5 Gg (4.5 million kg) (CH₄: 57%; N₂O direct: 18.7%; N₂O volatilization: 36%) was calculated from 7.25 million laying hens in the Konya Region (province and districts). Based on the research, the carbon footprint was calculated as 0.62 kg CO₂e/chicken and 4.13 kg CO₂e/kg fertilizer according to the TIER1a method, taking into account all animals raised in laying hens in the Konya Region. A global warming potential intensity map for the year 2024 was created for the Konya Region. It was estimated that approximately 4.5 Gg of CO₂/year was released in 2024 due to manure management in egg-laying farms in the Konya Region. The districts of Karatay, Meram, Kulu, Selçuklu, and Akşehir in the Konya Region have been found to have high CO₂ emissions from egg-laying farms. The carbon footprint of the 12 egg-laying farms studied, calculated using the TIER1a method, ranged from 0.58-0.62 kg CO₂e/chicken, 2.57-57.96 kg CO₂e/kg manure, 0.32-0.39 kg CO₂e/kg chicken meat, and 0.0026-0.0031 kg CO₂e/kg eggs. The carbon footprint of the same farms, according to the TIER2 method, was: The calculated values range from 0.32 to 0.41 kg CO₂e/chicken, 2.57 to 57.96 kg CO₂e/kg manure, 0.18 to 0.23 kg CO₂e/kg chicken meat, and 0.0013 to 0.0019 kg CO₂e/kg eggs. Compared to the TIER1a method, the TIER2 method uses data on country, climate, and livestock production systems, resulting in lower carbon footprints than the TIER2 method. Therefore, the TIER2 method is recommended for determining carbon footprint values and global warming potential originating from production systems, particularly livestock production systems. Supporting studies on this topic at regional and national levels is recommended.