Relationship between livestock intensification and feed-food competition in diverse European broiler and cattle farms

Livestock production accounts for a significant share of global feed and land, raising concerns about resource competition with humans. Monogastrics are considered more feed efficient and land productive than ruminants. But this may vary with intensification and if we consider what can be used for human nutrition (arable land and human edible protein). This study aimed to assess feed efficiency and land productivity using different metrics in 213 farms— 82 broiler, 78 dairy, and 53 beef farms — from very diverse systems in 9 EU countries. Considering key farm inputs, we grouped farms according to their intensification level (6 broiler, 7 dairy, and 5 beef farm groups). We calculated protein efficiency as kg of protein produced per kg of total protein (PE1) or per kg of human-edible protein (PE2) in feed, and land productivity as kg of protein produced per ha of total land (LP1) or per ha of arable land (LP2). As expected, PE1 and LP1 were higher in broiler than in dairy and beef farms (Median: 0.41 vs. 0.22 vs. 0.09 and 410 vs. 248 vs. 86 kg/ha, respectively) and increased with intensification. However, PE2 was higher in dairy than in broiler and beef farms (0.94 vs. 0.43 and 0.39) and LP2 was higher in broiler and dairy than in beef farms (410 and 404 vs. 173 kg/ha). PE2 and LP2 increased with intensification in broiler farms but decreased in dairy farms; the most extensive dairy farms requiring no human edible protein. In conclusion, intensification enhances protein efficiency and land productivity and broilers are more efficient than cattle. But, when considering the use of human-edible feed inputs, dairy systems are more efficient than broilers and their efficiency is higher in low input systems. These results will be used in an overall assessment covering product quality, animal welfare, and environment.