DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjavs.2025.v12i11.001

Pages: 291-299

The goat population in Bangladesh is steadily increasing, raising concerns about its potential contribution to the country's greenhouse gas emissions. For climate policies to be effective, it is crucial to assess these emissions accurately. This study aimed to evaluate methane (CH₄) emissions resulting from enteric fermentation in the Bangladeshi goat population, utilizing both the standard (Tier-1) and the more advanced, country-specific (Tier-2) methodologies outlined in the IPCC 2019 guidelines. The findings from these two approaches were then compared. The entire goat population was categorized into two breeds: Black Bengal (90%) and Jamunapari (10%). For the Tier-2 analysis, breed-specific emission factors (EFs) were determined using local data on mature body weight and gross energy intake. These EFs were subsequently applied to annual population data from 2016–17 to 2020–21. The results from the Tier-2 method indicated EFs of 2.24 kg CH₄ head⁻¹ year⁻¹ for Black Bengal goats and 3.01 kg CH₄ head⁻¹ year⁻¹ for Jamunapari goats, representing reductions of 55% and 40%, respectively, compared to the IPCC Tier-1 default EF of 5 kg CH₄ head⁻¹ year⁻¹. Consequently, the Tier-2 method estimated that overall national methane emissions increased gradually from 60.11 to 61.67 Gigagrams (Gg) per year during the study period. In contrast, the Tier-1 method produced estimates that were approximately 115% higher, ranging between 129.65 and 133.00 Gg CH₄ per year. The application of the IPCC Tier-2 methodology with country-specific data reveals that the baseline for methane emissions from Bangladesh's goat sector is significantly lower than the estimates produced by Tier-1. This finding underscores the need for developing localized emission factors to ensure accurate national greenhouse gas inventories and to inform targeted mitigation strategies within the livestock sector.