Alberta Beef Life Cycle Analysis - Phase 2

 
 
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Evaluating Environmental and Economic Impact for Beef Production in Alberta using Life Cycle Analysis - Phase 2

What is the Purpose of the Study?
The major objective of the study was to perform a cost benefit assessment of adopting selected beneficial management practices (BMPs) for reducing the footprint associated with beef production in Alberta.

The study was funded by Growing Forward, A Federal-Provincial-Territorial Initiative, and completed by Conestoga-Rovers & Associates and JRG Consulting Group. The project was led by the Economics and Competitiveness Division, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD).

Why is the Study Important?
Environmental issues are becoming more important for consumers, industry and government.

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).

 
 
 
 

Other Documents in the Series

 
  Alberta Beef Life Cycle Analysis
Alberta Beef Life Cycle Analysis - Phase 1
Alberta Beef Life Cycle Analysis - Phase 2 - Current Document
 
 
 
 
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For more information about the content of this document, contact Emmanuel Laate.
This document is maintained by Shukun Guan.
This information published to the web on August 25, 2011.
Last Reviewed/Revised on August 28, 2017.