Resumen de Quantification of environmental impacts from traditional systems beef cattle production in southern Brazil by a life cycle assessment method
Marcelo Abreu da Silva, Milene Dick
The need for livestock production serves to elevate the importance of the charges ascribed to it by society for the environmental impacts of its various activities. In this context, the present work aimed to characterize the main environmental impacts of traditional beef cattle production in southern Brazil and estimate the relative contribution of emission due to its various activities and components, using a life cycle assessment method. The basis for construction of the simulated system was a herd originated from 100 female and four male weaned animals and their progeny during a 12-yr productive life, in addition to land areas, external inputs and other natural resources and technology necessary for its operation. Estimates obtained per kilogram of live weight gain were: 22.5 kg CO2 equivalent; 234.8 m2 of land; 2.8 g SO2 equivalent; 3.8 g P equivalent; 0.217 m3 water; 0.5 g Fe equivalent, and 4.2 g oil equivalent, for greenhouse gas emissions (GGE), land use, terrestrial acidification, water eutrophication, and depletion of water, minerals and fossil fuels. Of the GGE emissions, 84.4% were of animal origen, mainly due to enteric fermentation which contributes 97.2% of the subtotal. The breeding stock contribute 63.4% of the animal emissions. These results should not be taken as absolute standards for beef cattle production in southern Brazil, rather our aim is to support proposals for alternatives to mitigate undesirable emissions in quest of a new perspective: one in which improvements to livestock operations seek not only enhanced productivity, but also benefits of a social and environmental nature.
