Comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of pork using different protein sources in pig feed
Feed production is the main contributor to a subset of environmental impacts of pork production. In this context, this study is concerned with the substitution of soy products in pig diets in order to reduce these impacts. The aim of this study was to assess three alternative diets in gestating and...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Archives Animal Breeding |
| Online Access: | http://www.arch-anim-breed.net/59/27/2016/aab-59-27-2016.pdf |
| Summary: | Feed production is the main contributor to a subset of environmental impacts
of pork production. In this context, this study is concerned with the
substitution of soy products in pig diets in order to reduce these impacts.
The aim of this study was to assess three alternative diets in gestating and
lactating sows as well as growing and finishing pigs in order to reduce the
amount of soy products used as ingredients. In the three alternative
scenarios soy proteins were compensated for by either using a combination of
different feedstuffs (e.g. rapeseed meal, fava beans, and synthetic amino
acids) (LOW), maximising the use of legumes (mainly fava beans) (LEG) and
increasing the amount of synthetic amino acids (AA). These alternative
scenarios were compared with standard diets (ST) and formulated in order to
reduce the crude-protein content of the diet while maintaining the same
performance of the pigs. Each of the resulting 16 diets was then assessed
with respect to global warming, eutrophication, acidification, and land use,
both when accounting and not accounting for emissions due to land use change.
The analysis per kilogram of feed showed that the ST diets performed best
with regard to global warming, eutrophication, and acidification. When
emissions from land use and land use change were added, ST and AA diets
appeared to have the least impact. In contrast, the assessment of scenarios
per kilogram of pork highlighted that the AA scenario contributed the least
in all impact categories. In conclusion, it is possible to partly replace
soybean products by using synthetic amino acids in order to minimise the
environmental impacts of the pork supply chain. |
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| ISSN: | 0003-9438 2363-9822 |