Broiler chicken production systems in Europe are characterized by a wide range of configurations in terms of input intensity, animal rearing conditions (ARC, indoor vs outdoor), animal traits (AT like growth rate and final liveweight (LW)). This study aimed to assess the environmental impact (Life Cycle Assessment) associated with broiler chicken reared in various European systems. A cradle-to-farm gate model was applied, with 1 kg LW and 1 m2 of land as functional units and global warming potential (GWP), freshwater eutrophication potential (FEP), non-renewable energy use (NREU) and land use (LU) as impact categories. Data originated from a total of 91 farms located in Belgium (20 farms), France (28), Italy (25), Poland (10) and Switzerland (8). Farms were grouped according to a gradient of intensification in 6 systems, based on ARCs and ATs. The systems ranged from outdoor rearing farms using slow growing strains (OutSlow, 24 farms), to indoor rearing farms using fast-growing strains and producing light (IndFast, 15) or heavy broilers (IndFastH, 35). On average, a production cycle lasted from 35±1 d (IndFast) to 82±7 d (OutSlow), with a final LW from 1.9±0.2 kg (IndFast) to 3.0±0.2 kg (IndFastH). On average, 1 kg LW was associated with 2.57±0.72 kg CO2-eq (GWP), 34±7 g P-eq (FEP), 7.1±4.9 MJ (NREU), 3.49 ±2.61 m2/y (LU), whereas per 1 m2 of land 0.97±0.39 kg CO2-eq (GWP), 13.1±6.7 g P-eq (FEP), 6.5±2.8 MJ (NREU). Indoor systems evidenced lower impacts per 1 kg LW, especially LU (-63%) but higher per 1 m2, especially FEP (+106%) than outdoor ones. Within both indoor and outdoor systems, animal variables showed a complex influence on environmental impacts. In conclusion, environmental impact profiles varied in complexity across systems. In perspective, impacts should be assessed together with the intrinsic quality of chicken meat from these systems and other extrinsic quality traits such as animal welfare. Acknowledgements: INTAQT project, Horizon 2020, agreement n°101000250.
Life Cycle Assessment of European broiler chicken systems
M Berton
;E Sturaro;
2025
Abstract
Broiler chicken production systems in Europe are characterized by a wide range of configurations in terms of input intensity, animal rearing conditions (ARC, indoor vs outdoor), animal traits (AT like growth rate and final liveweight (LW)). This study aimed to assess the environmental impact (Life Cycle Assessment) associated with broiler chicken reared in various European systems. A cradle-to-farm gate model was applied, with 1 kg LW and 1 m2 of land as functional units and global warming potential (GWP), freshwater eutrophication potential (FEP), non-renewable energy use (NREU) and land use (LU) as impact categories. Data originated from a total of 91 farms located in Belgium (20 farms), France (28), Italy (25), Poland (10) and Switzerland (8). Farms were grouped according to a gradient of intensification in 6 systems, based on ARCs and ATs. The systems ranged from outdoor rearing farms using slow growing strains (OutSlow, 24 farms), to indoor rearing farms using fast-growing strains and producing light (IndFast, 15) or heavy broilers (IndFastH, 35). On average, a production cycle lasted from 35±1 d (IndFast) to 82±7 d (OutSlow), with a final LW from 1.9±0.2 kg (IndFast) to 3.0±0.2 kg (IndFastH). On average, 1 kg LW was associated with 2.57±0.72 kg CO2-eq (GWP), 34±7 g P-eq (FEP), 7.1±4.9 MJ (NREU), 3.49 ±2.61 m2/y (LU), whereas per 1 m2 of land 0.97±0.39 kg CO2-eq (GWP), 13.1±6.7 g P-eq (FEP), 6.5±2.8 MJ (NREU). Indoor systems evidenced lower impacts per 1 kg LW, especially LU (-63%) but higher per 1 m2, especially FEP (+106%) than outdoor ones. Within both indoor and outdoor systems, animal variables showed a complex influence on environmental impacts. In conclusion, environmental impact profiles varied in complexity across systems. In perspective, impacts should be assessed together with the intrinsic quality of chicken meat from these systems and other extrinsic quality traits such as animal welfare. Acknowledgements: INTAQT project, Horizon 2020, agreement n°101000250.
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