Journal article
Water footprint of livestock: Comparison of six geographically defined beef production systems
BG Ridoutt, P Sanguansri, M Freer, GS Harper
International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment | SPRINGER HEIDELBERG | Published : 2012
Abstract
Purpose Water use in the livestock sector has featured in the debate about sustainable food systems. Most evidence has come from virtual water calculations which lack impact assessment and adequate consideration of the heterogeneity in livestock production. This study sought new evidence, using a recently developed life cycle impact assessment method for water use to assess six geographically defined beef cattle production systems in New South Wales, Australia, a major production region. Methods The livestock production systems were diverse in farm practice (grass and feedlot finishing), product (yearling to heavy steers), environment (high-rainfall coastal to semi-arid inland) and local wat..
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Funding Acknowledgements
We sincerely thank Andrew Moore (CSIRO Plant Industry) who provided expert advice on pasture growth rates in eastern Australia, Robert Young (CSIRO Livestock Industries) who advised on livestock husbandry practices, as well as the feedlot operator who provided data on feed composition and sourcing. This study was jointly funded by Meat and Livestock Australia and CSIRO Sustainable Agriculture National Research Flagship; the authors have exercised complete freedom in designing the research and interpreting the data. Finally, we thank Beverley Henry (Queensland University of Technology), Chris McSweeney (CSIRO Livestock Industries) and Jay Sellahewa (CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences) who reviewed the manuscript and made helpful suggestions.