Klimatpåverkan från ekologisk nötköttsproduktion : en fallstudie

Sammanfattning: Climate change is a great challenge in which beef production has a part, mainly due to greenhouse gases emitted from the feed production, digestion, and manure management. However, there is a large variation within the beef production when calculating the emission intensity. The emission intensity varies for example between production systems and the variation show the potential of emission mitigation. The purpose of this study was to examine how feeding and production intensity affect greenhouse gases emitted from, a specific farm with organic suckler beef production in Götalands skogsbygder. The study was conducted through a scenario analysis based on the farm conditions. Two scenarios with different feeding and production strategies were formed, intensive and extensive. Intensive feeding and production strategy was defined as production of Simmental bulls and heifers with minimal ration of roughage, though within the regulations for KRAV-certified production. Extensive feeding and production strategy was defined as production of Simmental steers and heifers with maximal ration of roughage. The crop production strategies were based on the feed requirements of the animals. The greenhouse gas calculations were restricted to emissions emitted on the farm. Intensive feeding and production strategy emitted less greenhouse gases (697 ton carbon dioxide equivalents, CO2e) and generated a lower emission intensity (19 kg CO2e per kg meat) compared to the extensive feeding and production strategy (805 ton CO2e and 25 kg CO2e per kg meat). The greatest source of emission in both scenarios was the digestion of feed, although the emissions from digestion was lower with intensive feeding and production strategy compared to extensive feeding and production strategy. The relevance of carbon sequestration as compensation to emissions was low. However, grazing cattle has an important role as a conservator of biodiversity in semi-natural pastures.