Alberta Beef Life Cycle Analysis - Phase 2

Issues about the environment translate into incremental costs and benefits for producers. ARD initiated the beef life cycle analysis (LCA) project to provide an understanding of the environmental and economic impacts associated with beef production in Alberta.

What Was Done?
The selected BMPs evaluated include: 1) Windrow composting of manure 2) Extended grazing alternatives (Swath grazing and Stockpile grazing), 3) Addition of ionophores to the diets of all cattle on pasture to improve feed efficiency. 4) Reducing age to slaughter through: a) the use of growth promotants (Ractopamine) to increase weight gain during the last 28 days on the feedlot and b) the removal of the backgrounding stage and the modification of diets to introduce higher concentrate diets sooner (fewer days on feed) and 5) Selection for superior Residual Feed Intake (RFI) genetics in breeding animals.

The phase 2 study used the Beef LCA phase 1 model to assess the environmental impacts and the cost and benefits of adopting the selected BMPs. The link to the phase 1 report is as follows: Phase 1

What are the Key Findings?
A review of the literature suggests that Alberta is the first jurisdiction to have performed a comprehensive cost benefit analysis of BMPs that is linked to an LCA in the agri-food sector. The results show that use of Ractopamine in the last 28 days on the feedlot, superior RFI genetics, ionophores, fewer days on feed and swath grazing generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions and in addition have economic benefits that outweigh the costs.

The report provides the foundation for beef producers to benchmark their carbon footprint and identifies the BMPs that generate fewer emissions and have financial incentives to producers.

Link to full report in pdf format

For more information about the content of this document, contact Emmanuel Anum Laate (Project Manager).

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