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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #372970
Research Project: Sustainable Intensification of Crop and Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems at Multiple Scales

Location: Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research

Title: Effects of cow-calf management strategies on environmental footprints of beef cattle production in the United States

Author
item BARBER, JESSICA - Texas A&M University
item WICKERSHAM, TRYON - Texas A&M University
item PLACE, SARA - Elanco Animal Health, Inc
item Rotz, Clarence - Al

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2020
Publication Date: 7/19/2020
Citation: Barber, J.R., Wickersham, T.A., Place, S.A., Rotz, C.A. 2020. Effects of cow-calf management strategies on environmental footprints of beef cattle production in the United States[abstract]. American Society of Animal Science. P.1.

Interpretive Summary: No Interpretive Summary is required for this Abstract Only. JLB.

Technical Abstract: As baseline environmental footprints of beef cattle production are established, mitigation strategies through cow-calf dietary and production management can be evaluated. Our objective was to quantify environmental benefits obtained in beef cattle production through implementation of cow-calf management strategies. Ten cow-calf management strategies were identified related to animal performance, feed management, or pasture management. Each strategy was incorporated into 20 representative beef cattle production systems and simulated with the Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM) using local soil and climate data. A combined strategy was identified based upon the results of individual strategies, which was also simulated with IFSM. Farm-gate life cycle assessment was used to estimate carbon (C) footprint, fossil energy use, blue water use, and total reactive nitrogen (N) loss for all production systems and strategy combinations. Averages of each environmental metric for the cow-calf sector were based on weighted averages of regional cow inventory data. National estimates of environmental impacts were based upon the number of cattle represented by each production system. Feed efficiency, terminal cross, and reduced cow body size strategies had the greatest effect on C footprint (reductions of 1.68, 1.05, and 0.98 kg CO2eq/kg CW, respectively). Calving season, reduced cow body size, and improved fiber digestion increased fossil energy use, while feed efficiency and calf implant use reduced fossil energy use. Using a national water footprint for corn, blue water use was reduced by 117 and 71.5 kg/kg of CW through improved feed efficiency. Total reactive N loss was reduced by 5.11 and 7.59 g N/kg of CW through improved feed efficiency and reduced cow body size, respectively. The combined strategy reduced C footprint, fossil energy use, blue water use, and reactive N loss by 3.64 kg CO2e/kg CW, 6.52 MJ/kg CW, 248 kg water/kg CW, and 18.7 g/kg CW, respectively.