Summary
This life cycle assessment integrates process-based soil carbon modelling with farm-level data from the North Wyke Farm Platform to evaluate the carbon footprint of grass-based beef cattle finishing under business-as-usual conditions and three mitigation scenarios. The study quantifies trade-offs between extensification, nitrification inhibition with legume substitution, and anaerobic digestion for manure management, finding that anaerobic digestion delivers the largest emissions reduction (26%), whilst emphasising the importance of full supply-chain accounting in assessing sustainability.
UK applicability
The findings are directly applicable to UK grass-based beef production systems, as the baseline data derives from a UK research platform (North Wyke) and addresses mitigation strategies feasible within UK farming contexts. The results support evidence-based policy development for UK agricultural emissions reduction targets and provide practical intervention options for UK beef producers.
Key measures
Partial carbon footprint (kg CO₂-equivalent per kg beef liveweight gain); greenhouse gas emissions (N₂O, CO₂, CH₄) across cradle-to-farmgate; soil organic carbon dynamics via RothC model
Outcomes reported
The study quantified the carbon footprint reductions achievable through three mitigation interventions—nitrification inhibitors, legume introduction, and anaerobic digestion—applied to grass-based beef cattle finishing systems. Results demonstrated percentage reductions in partial carbon footprint per kilogramme of beef liveweight gain under each intervention scenario.
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