Life cycle assessment of pasture-based suckler steer weanling-to-beef production systems: Effect of breed and slaughter age.

Animal : an International Journal of Animal Bioscience
J HerronD O'Brien

Abstract

Demand for beef produced from pasture-based diets is rising as it is perceived to be healthier, animal friendly and good for the environment. Animals reared on a solely grass forage diet, however, have a lower growth rate than cereal-fed animals and consequently are slaughtered at an older age. This study focused on the former by conducting life cycle assessments of beef production systems offering only fresh or conserved grass, and comparing them to a conventional pasture-based beef production system offering concentrate feeding during housing. The four suckler weanling-to-beef production systems simulated were: (i) Steers produced to slaughter entirely on a grass forage diet at 20 months (GO-20); (ii) Steers produced to slaughter entirely on a grass forage diet at 24 months (GO-24); (iii) Steers produced to slaughter on a grass forage diet with concentrate supplementation during housing (GC-24), and (iv) Steers produced to slaughter entirely on a grass forage diet at 28 months (GO-28). Two breed types were evaluated: early-maturing and late-maturing (LM). The environmental impacts assessed were global warming potential (GWP), non-renewable energy (NRE), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (marine (MEP) and ...Continue Reading

References

Aug 1, 1995·Journal of Animal Science·K A Johnson, D E Johnson
Mar 12, 2010·Nutrition Journal·Cynthia A DaleyStephanie Larson
Mar 24, 2012·Animal : an International Journal of Animal Bioscience·J M Wilkinson
Feb 1, 2010·Animal : an International Journal of Animal Bioscience·S B ConroyD P Berry
Nov 13, 2013·Journal of Environmental Quality·Christopher D LupoJames J Stone
Jun 15, 2016·The Science of the Total Environment·D J KrolK G Richards
Feb 6, 2017·Meat Science·Maeve M HenchionVirginia C Resconi
Apr 4, 2019·Frontiers in Nutrition·Frederick D ProvenzaPablo Gregorini

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