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Effect of Three Husbandry Systems on Environmental Impact of Organic Pigs

Author

Listed:
  • Gwendolyn Rudolph

    (Department for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, 1180 Vienna, Austria)

  • Stefan Hörtenhuber

    (Department for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, 1180 Vienna, Austria)

  • Davide Bochicchio

    (Research Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 41100 Modena, Italy)

  • Gillian Butler

    (School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK)

  • Roland Brandhofer

    (Department for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, 1180 Vienna, Austria)

  • Sabine Dippel

    (Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 29223 Celle, Germany)

  • Jean Yves Dourmad

    (Physiology of Adaptation, Animal Nutrition and Health, INRA, 35590 Saint-Gilles, France)

  • Sandra Edwards

    (School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK)

  • Barbara Früh

    (Department of Extension, Training and Communication, FiBL, 5070 Frick, Switzerland)

  • Matthias Meier

    (Department of Socio-Economic Sciences, FiBL, 5070 Frick, Switzerland)

  • Armelle Prunier

    (Physiology of Adaptation, Animal Nutrition and Health, INRA, 35590 Saint-Gilles, France)

  • Christoph Winckler

    (Department for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, 1180 Vienna, Austria)

  • Werner Zollitsch

    (Department for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, 1180 Vienna, Austria)

  • Christine Leeb

    (Department for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, 1180 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

This study examined the environmental impact of the three common organic pig husbandry systems, indoor (n = 24), partly outdoor (n = 30), and outdoor (n = 10), in eight European countries. Global warming (GWP), acidification (AP), and eutrophication potential (EP) was assessed per 1000 kg pig live weight on 64 farrow-to-finish pig production chains (cradle to farm gate). GWP, AP, and EP varied greatly, and the most important source was feed production, followed by housing. GWP did not differ between systems ( p = 0.934), but AP in indoor systems and EP in outdoor systems were higher than in partly outdoor systems ( p = 0.006 and p = 0.010, respectively). The higher AP in indoor systems can mainly be explained by NH 3 arising from manure spreading, while PO 4 -eq arising from feed consumption and emissions on pasture accounted for the higher EP in outdoor systems. Associations of farm characteristics with (reduced) environmental impacts were mainly found for AP and EP, and included: (Increasing) farm size, numbers of piglets born and weaned per litter, (bought-in) mineral feed, and high-protein by-products, the latter probably connected to beneficial effects of appropriate dietary digestible lysine levels and feed conversion ratio. Increasing carcass weights and dietary cereal proportions were associated with higher environmental impacts. Overall, variation was mostly higher within than between systems, and measures to mitigate environmental impact were identified.

Suggested Citation

  • Gwendolyn Rudolph & Stefan Hörtenhuber & Davide Bochicchio & Gillian Butler & Roland Brandhofer & Sabine Dippel & Jean Yves Dourmad & Sandra Edwards & Barbara Früh & Matthias Meier & Armelle Prunier &, 2018. "Effect of Three Husbandry Systems on Environmental Impact of Organic Pigs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:10:p:3796-:d:177046
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pelletier, N. & Lammers, P. & Stender, D. & Pirog, R., 2010. "Life cycle assessment of high- and low-profitability commodity and deep-bedded niche swine production systems in the Upper Midwestern United States," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 103(9), pages 599-608, November.
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    3. Javier García-Gudiño & Alessandra N. T. R. Monteiro & Sandrine Espagnol & Isabel Blanco-Penedo & Florence Garcia-Launay, 2020. "Life Cycle Assessment of Iberian Traditional Pig Production System in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.
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    5. Antonia Katharina Ruckli & Stefan Josef Hörtenhuber & Paolo Ferrari & Jonathan Guy & Juliane Helmerichs & Robert Hoste & Carmen Hubbard & Nadja Kasperczyk & Christine Leeb & Agata Malak-Rawlikowska & , 2022. "Integrative Sustainability Analysis of European Pig Farms: Development of a Multi-Criteria Assessment Tool," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-26, May.
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