Environmental footprint of a France – Italy integrated beef production system with a LCA approach

The beef production in Italy is conglomerated in the Po Valley, and is based on young bulls imported mainly from France and intensively fattened using total mixed rations (TMR) based on maize silage and concentrates. This study aimed to examine the environmental footprint of intensive beef sector of Veneto region through a cradle-to-farm-gate life cycle assessment (LCA). The batch (a group of animals homogenous for breed, diet, fattening period, and finishing herd) and 1 kg of Body Weight (BW) were taken as system boundary and functional unit respectively. The considered impact categories were greenhouse gases (GHG) emission (kg CO 2 -eq) and eutrophication (g PO 4 -eq). The study involved 198 batches (Charolaise breed) and 15 specialized beef fatteners. An on farm survey was conducted for the fattening period in Italy (225±17 d, from 392±25 to 734±21 kg BW), whereas the French cow-calf phase emissions were obtained from literature data. On-farm data for crop-to-feed production and materials (fuel, electricity, plastic, lubricant, fertilisers) were recorded during 2013; off-farm emissions were based on literature and software data (Simapro 7.3.3 – Ecoinvent database v.3.0). Mean GHG emission was 14.3±0.8 kg CO 2 eq/kg BW, while eutrophication was 59±6 g PO 4 -eq/kg BW. The Italian fattening phase contributed for 27% and 35% on average to GHG emissions and eutrophication respectively. For the intensive fattening period, the factors affecting the environmental footprint were average daily gain (1.53±0.09 kg/d) and diet composition. The cow-calf phase will be further investigated in order to analyse the variability of impact categories and the ecosystems services provided by animal grazing, with the perspective to obtain a holistic evaluation of the sustainability of the integrated France – Italy beef production system.