Impact of EXT (INT = 100%)
OBJECTIVE
Determination of the environmental impacts of two contrasting beef production systems by life cycle assessment (LCA).
RESULTS
CONCLUSION
The extensive use of grasslands for beef production has the potential to reduce the environmental impacts per kg of carcass, especially if the animals reach desired slaughter maturity on the pasture (i.e. no intensive finishing period required).
Life cycle assessment (LCA) of two beef production systems
A. Chassot 1 , A. Philipp 2 and G. Gaillard 3
An extensive fattening system of Limousine x Simmental crossbred steers based on grass (EXT) was compared to an intensive fattening system of Simmental bulls (INT). The animals of EXT and INT were slaughtered at 20 and 13 months of age, respectively.
EXT: two grazing periods, the second one on an unfertilised mountain meadow, at low stocking rate; winter ration: low-quality hay and grass silage (1:1).
INT: continuously fed indoor with a ration composed of grass, maize silages (1:2), and concentrates (soybean meal and barley, 1,5:1).
The production data were based on experiments. The environmental impacts were quantified by using the software TEAMTM and the Swiss Agricultural Life Cycle Assessment (SALCA) database.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
• The environmental impacts of EXT were similar or lower than those of INT
• The largest differences were found in toxic effects on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
• The amount and type of fertilizers used to produce the feed were the main source of difference between the systems
E-mail: Andre.Chassot@alp.admin.ch
Environmental impacts per kg of carcass of an extensive (EXT) compared to an intensive beef production system (INT)
aAnimal ready for slaughter
S ys te m b o u n d ar y
Fertilisers
Calves Fuel Machinery Buildings Grazing Feed Calves Fuel Machinery Buildings
1Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux (ALP), Swiss Federal Research Station for Animal Production and Dairy Products, 1725 Posieux, Switzerland 2 Agricultural College, 9230 Flawil, Switzerland
3Agroscope FAL Reckenholz, Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture (FAL), 8046 Zurich-Reckenholz, Switzerland
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
116%
111%
112%
111%
107%
52%
46%
77%
84%
97%
101%
INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT INT EXT Depletion of non-renewable (fossile) energy ressources Global warming potential over 100 years Global warming potential over 500 years Formation of ozone at ground level (summer smog) Human toxicity Aquatic ecotoxicity Terrestrial ecotoxicity Total eutrophication Aquatic eutrophication Terrestrial eutrophication Acidification
Impact categories
a Within a production system and an impact category, each factor is expressed as a percentage of the sum of all related factors
Concentrates Minerals Milk
Calves Straw
Buildings Machines
Spreading of solid manure and slurry
Hay Grass silage Beef production system
Grassland Seeds
Fertilizers Pesticides
INT
Transport Litter Storage of organic fertilizers
Maize silage Crops
Cereals Straw
Feedingstrategy Storage / removal
Fuel Electricity
Livestock
Finishing Cattle rearing Production of animal feed
Concentrates Minerals Milk
Calves Straw
Buildings Machines
Spreading of solid manure and slurry
Hay Grass silage Beef production system
Grassland Seeds
Fertilizers Pesticides
INT
Transport Litter Storage of organic fertilizers
Maize silage Crops
Cereals Straw
Feedingstrategy Storage / removal
Fuel Electricity
Livestock
Finishing Cattle rearing Production of animal feed
Concentrates Minerals Milk
Calves Straw
Buildings Machines Seeds Fertilizers Pesticides
EXT
Fuel Electricity
Spreading of solid manure and slurry
Hay Grass silage Beef production system
Grassland
Transport Litter Storage of organic fertilizers
Crops
Cereals Straw
Feedingstrategy Storage / removal
Livestock
Cattle rearing Production of animal feed
Pastures
Organic fertilizers Beef production system (summering)
Mountain pastures
Finishing Concentrates
Minerals Milk
Calves Straw
Buildings Machines Seeds Fertilizers Pesticides
EXT
Fuel Electricity
Spreading of solid manure and slurry
Hay Grass silage Beef production system
Grassland
Transport Litter Storage of organic fertilizers
Crops
Cereals Straw
Feedingstrategy Storage / removal
Livestock
Cattle rearing Production of animal feed
Pastures
Organic fertilizers Beef production system (summering)
Mountain pastures
Finishing
Very positive < 67%
Positive 67 - 80%
Similar 80 - 125%
Negative 125 - 150%
Very negative > 150%
