Bieńkowski J., Dąbrowicz R., Holka M., Jankowiak J. Carbon Footprint of Beef Cattle in a Conventional Production System: a Case Study of a Large-Area Farming Enterprise in the Wielkopolska Region
Autor | Jerzy Bieńkowski, Radosław Dąbrowicz, Małgorzata Holka, Janusz Jankowiak |
Tytuł | Carbon Footprint of Beef Cattle in a Conventional Production System: a Case Study of a Large-Area Farming Enterprise in the Wielkopolska Region |
Title | Carbon Footprint of Beef Cattle in a Conventional Production System: a Case Study of a Large-Area Farming Enterprise in the Wielkopolska Region |
Słowa kluczowe | carbon footprint, beef production, emission of greenhouse gases, life cycle assessment, agriculture |
Key words | carbon footprint, beef production, emission of greenhouse gases, life cycle assessment, agriculture |
Abstrakt | Animal production is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. One of the major challenges in sustainable management is to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing GHG emissions. The diversity of animal production systems and accompanying diversification of technological processes, mean that specific production effects can be obtained at different levels of GHG emissions. The aim of the study was to determine the carbon footprint (CF) of beef cattle grown in a conventional system (i.e. indoor confinement). The research was carried out on the beef cattle farm belonging to a large-area enterprise, Długie Stare Ltd. The beef cattle production system consisted of the following subsystems: a basic breeding herd (consisting of suckler cows, replacement heifers and calves up to 6.5 months), breeding heifers, breeding bulls and fattening bulls. The method of life cycle analysis (LCA) in the stages from "cradle-to-farmgate" was used to assess the GHG emissions associated with the production of beef cattle. The average CF in the entire beef cattle production system was 25.43 kg of CO2 kg-1 of live weight of marketed cattle, while in the individual subsystems of basic breeding herd, breeding heifers, breeding bulls and fattening bulls, the CF (after GHG allocation) was: 11.0 kg CO2 eq., 34.30 kg CO2 eq., 27.32 and 25.40 kg CO2 eq., respectively. GHG emissions associated with young calves staying in the cow-calf pairs until weaning (in the period from 0-6.5 months), had a decisive influence on the final CF in each of the subsystems of beef cattle production. The second important factor directly affecting the CF was GHG emissions related to methane (CH4) enteric fermentation and manure management. Knowledge of factors affecting the CF structure allows better identification of critical areas in production processes with high GHG emission potential. Information on the CF of beef cattle and beef meat responds to a wider societal demand for the ecological characteristics of market products, which ultimately contributes to improving their market competitiveness. |
Abstract | Animal production is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. One of the major challenges in sustainable management is to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing GHG emissions. The diversity of animal production systems and accompanying diversification of technological processes, mean that specific production effects can be obtained at different levels of GHG emissions. The aim of the study was to determine the carbon footprint (CF) of beef cattle grown in a conventional system (i.e. indoor confinement). The research was carried out on the beef cattle farm belonging to a large-area enterprise, Długie Stare Ltd. The beef cattle production system consisted of the following subsystems: a basic breeding herd (consisting of suckler cows, replacement heifers and calves up to 6.5 months), breeding heifers, breeding bulls and fattening bulls. The method of life cycle analysis (LCA) in the stages from "cradle-to-farmgate" was used to assess the GHG emissions associated with the production of beef cattle. The average CF in the entire beef cattle production system was 25.43 kg of CO2 kg-1 of live weight of marketed cattle, while in the individual subsystems of basic breeding herd, breeding heifers, breeding bulls and fattening bulls, the CF (after GHG allocation) was: 11.0 kg CO2 eq., 34.30 kg CO2 eq., 27.32 and 25.40 kg CO2 eq., respectively. GHG emissions associated with young calves staying in the cow-calf pairs until weaning (in the period from 0-6.5 months), had a decisive influence on the final CF in each of the subsystems of beef cattle production. The second important factor directly affecting the CF was GHG emissions related to methane (CH4) enteric fermentation and manure management. Knowledge of factors affecting the CF structure allows better identification of critical areas in production processes with high GHG emission potential. Information on the CF of beef cattle and beef meat responds to a wider societal demand for the ecological characteristics of market products, which ultimately contributes to improving their market competitiveness. |
Cytowanie | Bieńkowski J., Dąbrowicz R., Holka M., Jankowiak J. (2018) Carbon Footprint of Beef Cattle in a Conventional Production System: a Case Study of a Large-Area Farming Enterprise in the Wielkopolska Region.Zeszyty Naukowe SGGW w Warszawie - Problemy Rolnictwa Światowego, t. 18(33), z. 3: 23-35 |
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Pełny tekst | PRS_2018_T18(33)_n3_s23.pdf |
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Bieńkowski J., Dąbrowicz R., Dworecka-Wąż E., Holka M. Emisje gazów cieplarnianych związane z różnymi scenariuszami diet mieszkańców Polski
Autor | Jerzy Bieńkowski, Radosław Dąbrowicz, Ewa Dworecka-Wąż , Małgorzata Holka |
Tytuł | Emisje gazów cieplarnianych związane z różnymi scenariuszami diet mieszkańców Polski |
Title | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Different Diet Scenarios of Poland’s Inhabitants |
Słowa kluczowe | skład diety, spożycie mięsa, wartość kaloryczna żywności, emisja gazów cieplarnianych, efekt środowiskowy |
Key words | diet composition, meat consumption, food caloric value, greenhouse gas emission, environmental effect |
Abstrakt | Ważnym działaniem w strategii ograniczania emisji gazów cieplarnianych (GHG) na poziomie krajowym może być promowanie zmian nawyków żywieniowych przez zmianę profilu gatunkowego mięs i ilości mięsa w racjach pokarmowych ludności. Celem badań była ocena możliwości redukcji emisji GHG za pomocą różnych scenariuszy diet w Polsce. Wyróżniono następujące typy diet: przeciętną, wegańską, wegetariańską lakto-owo, mięsożercy, mięsną drobiową, demitarian i o obniżonej wartości kalorycznej. Analizując skład diet oraz emisję GHG przy produkcji żywności w przeliczeniu na 1 kcal różnych produktów obliczono wielkość emisji tych gazów w skali kraju dla różnych scenariuszy diet. Wyniki badań wskazują, że modyfikacja preferencji żywieniowych w kierunku diet: wegańskiej, mięsnej drobiowej oraz demitarian pozwala osiągnąć wyraźne zmniejszenie poziomu emisji GHG w stosunku do przeciętnej diety. |
Abstract | An important action in the strategy for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the national level can be the promotion of changes in eating habits, by changing the profile of meat species and quantities of meat in the food rations of the population. The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of reducing GHG emissions by different diet scenarios in Poland. The following types of diets were distinguished: average, vegan, vegetarian lacto-ovo, carnivore, poultry meat, demitarian, and reduced energy value. By analyzing the composition of the diets and GHG emission related to the food production per 1 kcal of different products, emissions of these gases on a national scale for different diet scenarios were calculated. The study results indicate that the modification of food preferences towards diets – vegan, poultry meat and demitarian – allows GHG emissions to be markedly reduced compared to the average diet. |
Cytowanie | Bieńkowski J., Dąbrowicz R., Dworecka-Wąż E., Holka M. (2016) Emisje gazów cieplarnianych związane z różnymi scenariuszami diet mieszkańców Polski.Zeszyty Naukowe SGGW w Warszawie - Problemy Rolnictwa Światowego, t. 16(31), z. 3: 9-19 |
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Pełny tekst | PRS_2016_T16(31)_n3_s9.pdf |
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