Towards sustainable livestock systems: Developing and applying methods for broad sustainability assessment of pig and cattle systems

Meat and milk are valuable foods from livestock that contribute to quality of life for humans but have negative environmental, social and economic impacts. Measuring such impacts in sustainability assessments requires methods with a broad and deep focus. The overall aim of this thesis was to further develop sustainability assessment methods to broadly evaluate livestock systems and to use these methods to increase knowledge on how future sustainable pig and cattle production systems can be developed. Social life cycle assessment (S-LCA), Life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) and the One Health framework were developed further and used to assess the impacts of the different livestock systems i.e. organic and conventional Swedish pig production, future pig production scenarios and three cattle systems (cropland based dairy, grassland based dairy and grassland based suckler beef production) in southern Europe. S-LCA, LCSA and the One Health framework sustainability methods can assess important sustainability aspects for pig and cattle production systems and identify important trade-offs. Organic pig production had lower social risk for negative social impacts for pigs and consumers than conventional pig production but higher environmental impacts per kg for eutrophication, acidification and fossil depletion. Grassland based suckler beef production was more resilient to economic losses due to changes in interest rates, input prices and output prices, produced more protein (in meat) than found in the feed and had higher profitability compared to the other cattle systems. However, grassland based beef production had higher eutrophication, acidification and fossil depletion compared to the dairy systems. Changing the breeding goal of pigs, changing the diet composition by including silage and having other protein sources than soybean, and using renewable energy sources in future pig production can further reduce negative impacts

Carbon footprint based on lifetime productivity for future cows selected for resilience to climate-related disturbances

Droughts, which can affect feed production, are projected to become more common under future climate conditions. In light of this, breeding cattle resilient to changes in feeding regimens is increasingly becoming an important topic. Body reserves can play a crucial role when feed resources are limited. We simulated populations of dairy cows selected with 2 different breeding goals: one reflecting the current breeding goal and the other placing weight on minimum level of body reserves in early lactation and change in body reserves during lactation. We considered this latter as a breeding goal for resilience. We used the 2 dynamic simulation programs ADAM and AQAL to predict performance of the cows after selection. In AQAL, we modeled moderate and severe drought by decreasing feed quality and quantity offered to cows during one year. We compared cows selected with the 2 breeding goals under 3 environments: without disturbances related to climate and with moderate and severe drought. In the environments without disturbances and the moderate drought, the cows selected with the current breeding goal had higher lifetime lactation efficiency (energy invested in milk/ energy acquired from feed) and lower carbon footprint per kilogram of protein in milk and meat than cows selected for resilience. However, with severe drought, cows selected for resilience had higher lifetime lactation efficiency and lower carbon footprint per kilogram of protein in milk and meat than those selected with the current breeding goal. This suggests that cows selected for high productive performance do not perform well under very limiting conditions, leading to increased climate impact. The importance of inclusion of body reserves as a resilience trait in dairy cattle breeding depends on the future environment in which the cows will be used

Environmental consequences of pig production scenarios using biomass from rotational grass-clover leys as feed

Production of pork based on monoculture cereal-based cropping systems causes substantial environmental pressures and feed-food competition. This study evaluated the environmental consequences of five different scenarios involving inclusion of rotational grass-clover leys and incorporation of grass-clover biomass in pig diets: (1) a conventional reference scenario without grass-clover biomass; (2) a conventional scenario with replacement of feed with grass-clover silage in a total mixed ration, i.e., with grass-clover biomass replacing other feed; (3) an organic scenario using grass-clover silage for enrichment purposes only; (4) an organic scenario using grass-clover silage for enrichment purposes and additional grass-clover leys for green manuring; and (5) an organic scenario using grass-clover silage and pasture to replace feed. The functional unit was 1 kg of pork slaughter weight and the system boundary was from cradle to farm gate. We used life cycle assessment, the introductory carbon balance method and human edible feed conversion efficiency to assess the performance of the pig production system. Introducing grass-clover biomass as a total mixed ration in conventional pig diets, reduced the climate impact (-17%), eutrophication (-7.1%), marine eutrophication (-15%), energy use (-13%), and feed-food competition (-20%) per kg of pork meat, while acidification (+2.7%) and land use (+1.5%) were slightly increased compared with the reference. The lower climate impact (without considering soil carbon change) was attributable to reduced fertilizer and diesel needs due to pre-crop effects. Overall, feeding grass-clover biomass decreased several environmental impact categories, feed-food competition and improved cereal-based cropping systems by the introduction of grass-clover leys

Sustainability assessment of economic, environmental and social impacts, feed-food competition and economic robustness of dairy and beef farming systems in South Western Europe

The objective of this study was to evaluate the sustainability of cattle systems in South Western Europe by combining life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) with assessment of feed-food competition and economic robustness. We studied three cattle systems using different proportions of semi-natural pasture, and producing either only beef or milk and beef, i.e. a dairy system with Holstein breed in the lowlands of France with 85% of the total land used being semi-natural pastures (ParSy). The functional unit for LCSA was 1000 kg protein of animal origin and the system boundary was from cradle to farmgate. The cattle production systems were assessed using 27 indicators (LCSA, feed-food competition and robustness). The results indicated that MonSy performed less well for 10 and ParSy for 14 out of the 27 indicators researched when compared to HolSy, the reference case. HolSy was less sensitive to a support payment decrease and had lower social impacts on farmers than the other two systems. MonSy had lower impacts on some environmental indicators, lower life cycle costs, lower social impacts on society, lower human edible feed conversion ratio (i.e. less feed-food competition) for fat and less sensitivity to a meat price decrease than the other two systems. ParSy had lower terrestrial and freshwater ecotoxicity, lower human edible feed conversion ratio and land use ratio for protein, lower social impact for the local community, and a higher internal rate of return than the other systems. ParSy had less sensitivity to feed and energy price increases, and increased rented land and loan interest costs than the other systems. Producing both meat and milk at the same farm increased vulnerability to economic changes. Semi-natural pasture based dairy in highland Europe needs support payments to keep the farm economically afloat in times of economic changes e.g. due to shocks

Social life cycle assessment of Swedish organic and conventional pork production

Purpose Sustainable animal food systems are increasingly important to society. Yet for pork, the most consumed meat product in Europe, there is no social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) in the literature. The breath and complexity of social issues and lack of data makes the task challenging. This study examines the risk of negative social impacts in Swedish pork production systems and includesworkers,farmers,consumers,local community,society, andpigsas stakeholders. Methods The objective was to assess the risk of negative social impacts for the production and consumption of 1000-kg pork (fork weight-bone free meat including cooking losses) originating from two different systems: organic and conventional pork production. Relevant social sustainability issues for pork production systems were identified through a literature search and a consultative workshop with experts. A life cycle inventory was conducted to collect data for activity variables and compute Social Risk (SR), a measure of the risk of negative social impacts related to a reference (here the average European social conditions). Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) was used to obtain weights for subcategories. The SR scores and the weights were used to calculate Social Risk Time (SRT) that relates the Social Risk to the functional unit by considering the 'exposure' to the risk, and the Social Hotspot Index (SHI), which relates the SRT to the worst possible situation for that system. Results and discussion The conventional pork system had 42% of inventory indicators with SR > 0.5 and the organic pork system had 32%. For all stakeholders, thepig farmhad the largest SRT in both production systems except forworkersin the organic pork system where the soybean farmhad the largest SRT. In the conventional pork system,societyas well asfarmersat thepig farmhad SHI > 0.5 slightly, meaning performing the same as European average. In the organic pork system, SHI < 0.5 for all stakeholders and subsystems. Conclusion Swedish pork production has lower risk of negative social impacts than the average European social conditions for most of the stakeholders:workers,pigs,local community, andconsumers.Farmersandsocietyat the subsystempig farmhave the same risk of negative social impacts as the average European social conditions. Due to the dependence of the results of the chosen reference level, the reliance on certification, and the indicators included, results should be interpreted and used with care

An assessment of scenarios for future pig production using a One Health approach

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Reduced climate impact feeding grass-clover biomass to pigs – calculation of the climate impact from a lifecycle perspective

Syftet med den här studien var att uppskatta klimateffekten ur ett livscykelperspektiv av att introducera gräs-klövervall som ingrediens i foder till grisar i konventionell svensk grisproduktion. Resultaten visar att klimatavtrycket för ett kg konventionellt griskött kan minskas med cirka 13 procent genom att en del av grisarnas traditionella foder byts ut mot vallfoder. Minskningen beror på i) lägre kvävegiva till vall i jämförelse med spannmål och därmed lägre lustgasutsläpp och lägre utsläpp från tillverkning av mineralgödsel, ii) minskad dieselanvändning, iii) högre skörd för vallen jämfört med andra fodermedel och iv) förfruktseffekter från vallodlingen i övriga grödor. Inkluderas den förväntade inlagringen av kol i mark när vall introduceras i en spannmålsdominerad växtföljd, minskar utsläppen med ytterligare 18 procent. Dock är uppskattningen vad gäller inlagring av kol från atmosfären i mark osäker och dessutom är processen reversibel, vilket gör att denna minskningspotential ska beaktas med viss försiktighet. Det finns flera ytterligare fördelar med att föra in vallodling i grisproduktionen inklusive förbättrad välfärd för grisarna, ökad markbördighet, ökad mångfald av odlade grödor på jordbruksmark som kan gynna biodiversiteten och minskad användning av insatsvaror. För att odla och hantera vallen och kunna använda vallfoder i foderstaten till grisar behövs en annan typ av maskinpark och utfodringsanläggning än vad som används traditionellt inom grisproduktion. Sådan teknik bör dock kunna komma på plats snabbt i och med att sådana system redan används inom mjölk och nötköttsproduktionen. Rådgivare inom grisproduktionen behöver också information och kunskap kring vilka vallgrödor som är lämpliga till grisar samt hur tekniska lösningar för skörd, lagring och hantering av ensilage på gårdsnivå bör ske. Mycket av den kunskapen finns att hämta hos mjölk- och nötköttsproducenter.The purpose of this study was to estimate the climate effect from a life cycle perspective of introducing grass-clover biomass as an ingredient in diets to pigs in conventional Swedish pig production. The results show that the climate footprint of one kg of conventional pork can be reduced by around 13 percent by replacing parts of the pigs' traditional feed with grass-clover biomass. The reduction in emissions is due to i) lower nitrogen application to grass-clover ley compared to grains and thus lower nitrous oxide emissions and lower emissions from mineral fertilizer production, ii) reduced diesel use, iii) higher yield for grass-clover ley compared to other fodder, and iv) precursor crop effects from the cultivation of grass-clover ley. If the expected sequestration of carbon in soil from the introduction of ley in a cereal-dominated crop rotation is included, emissions are reduced by an additional 18 percent. However, the estimate soil carbon sequestration is uncertain and the process is reversible, why this reduction potential must be considered with some caution. There are several additional benefits of introducing grass-clover biomass into pig production including improved pig welfare, increased soil fertility, increased diversity of crops grown on farmland which can benefit biodiversity and reduced use of inputs. To grow ley and use it as a feed ingredient in diets to pigs, a different type of machinery and feeding equipment is needed than what is traditionally used in pig production. However, it should be possible to put in place such technology quickly as such systems are already used in milk and beef production. Advisors in pig production also need information and knowledge about which ley crops are suitable for pigs and how technical solutions for harvesting, storing and handling ley at farm level should take place. Much of that knowledge can be obtained from milk and beef producers.Denna rapport är framtagen inom forskningsprogrammet Mistra Food Futures.</p

Reduced climate impact feeding grass-clover biomass to pigs – calculation of the climate impact from a lifecycle perspective

Syftet med den här studien var att uppskatta klimateffekten ur ett livscykelperspektiv av att introducera gräs-klövervall som ingrediens i foder till grisar i konventionell svensk grisproduktion. Resultaten visar att klimatavtrycket för ett kg konventionellt griskött kan minskas med cirka 13 procent genom att en del av grisarnas traditionella foder byts ut mot vallfoder. Minskningen beror på i) lägre kvävegiva till vall i jämförelse med spannmål och därmed lägre lustgasutsläpp och lägre utsläpp från tillverkning av mineralgödsel, ii) minskad dieselanvändning, iii) högre skörd för vallen jämfört med andra fodermedel och iv) förfruktseffekter från vallodlingen i övriga grödor. Inkluderas den förväntade inlagringen av kol i mark när vall introduceras i en spannmålsdominerad växtföljd, minskar utsläppen med ytterligare 18 procent. Dock är uppskattningen vad gäller inlagring av kol från atmosfären i mark osäker och dessutom är processen reversibel, vilket gör att denna minskningspotential ska beaktas med viss försiktighet. Det finns flera ytterligare fördelar med att föra in vallodling i grisproduktionen inklusive förbättrad välfärd för grisarna, ökad markbördighet, ökad mångfald av odlade grödor på jordbruksmark som kan gynna biodiversiteten och minskad användning av insatsvaror. För att odla och hantera vallen och kunna använda vallfoder i foderstaten till grisar behövs en annan typ av maskinpark och utfodringsanläggning än vad som används traditionellt inom grisproduktion. Sådan teknik bör dock kunna komma på plats snabbt i och med att sådana system redan används inom mjölk och nötköttsproduktionen. Rådgivare inom grisproduktionen behöver också information och kunskap kring vilka vallgrödor som är lämpliga till grisar samt hur tekniska lösningar för skörd, lagring och hantering av ensilage på gårdsnivå bör ske. Mycket av den kunskapen finns att hämta hos mjölk- och nötköttsproducenter.The purpose of this study was to estimate the climate effect from a life cycle perspective of introducing grass-clover biomass as an ingredient in diets to pigs in conventional Swedish pig production. The results show that the climate footprint of one kg of conventional pork can be reduced by around 13 percent by replacing parts of the pigs' traditional feed with grass-clover biomass. The reduction in emissions is due to i) lower nitrogen application to grass-clover ley compared to grains and thus lower nitrous oxide emissions and lower emissions from mineral fertilizer production, ii) reduced diesel use, iii) higher yield for grass-clover ley compared to other fodder, and iv) precursor crop effects from the cultivation of grass-clover ley. If the expected sequestration of carbon in soil from the introduction of ley in a cereal-dominated crop rotation is included, emissions are reduced by an additional 18 percent. However, the estimate soil carbon sequestration is uncertain and the process is reversible, why this reduction potential must be considered with some caution. There are several additional benefits of introducing grass-clover biomass into pig production including improved pig welfare, increased soil fertility, increased diversity of crops grown on farmland which can benefit biodiversity and reduced use of inputs. To grow ley and use it as a feed ingredient in diets to pigs, a different type of machinery and feeding equipment is needed than what is traditionally used in pig production. However, it should be possible to put in place such technology quickly as such systems are already used in milk and beef production. Advisors in pig production also need information and knowledge about which ley crops are suitable for pigs and how technical solutions for harvesting, storing and handling ley at farm level should take place. Much of that knowledge can be obtained from milk and beef producers.Denna rapport är framtagen inom forskningsprogrammet Mistra Food Futures.</p

An assessment of scenarios for future pig production using a One Health approach

publishedVersio