Economic and environmental feasibility of beef production in different feed management systems in the Pampa biome, southern Brazil

• Published in: Ecological indicators 2016-01, Vol.60, p.930-939
• Main Authors: Ruviaro, Clandio Favarini, da Costa, Jaqueline Severino, Florindo, Thiago José, Rodrigues, Whanderson, de Medeiros, Giovanna Isabelle Bom, Vasconcelos, Paulo Sérgio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air pollution; Annualized profitability index; Beef; beef cattle; Brazil; costs and returns; Economics; ecosystems; environmental sustainability; Feasibility; Greenhouse effect; greenhouse gas emissions; Greenhouse gases; Intern return rate; management systems; meat production; Net present value; Pampas; pastures; production technology; profitability
• ISSN: 1470-160X; 1872-7034
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.08.042

•Mitigate animal's environmental impacts are crucial to sustainability.•Economic and environmental sustainability of beef cattle grazing pasture is likely.•Certain feed conditions enable low GHG emission and economic return.•Beef cattle management can contribute to the proper use and preservation of biome. The economic and environmental sustainability of beef cattle from pasture use and preservation in specific biomes is still not well evaluated. In this context, the study of the feasibility of beef production in the Pampa biome stands out because of its relevance in southern Brazil. Thus, this paper aims not only to know the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in different feeding management systems of beef cattle, but also to evaluate the economic and environmental feasibility of that production. Seven typical production systems in the region were considered, and it was aimed to determine which one would be the most viable in the environmental and economic perspective. To achieve this aim, the paper was developed in two stages: the first considers greenhouse gases emissions calculation in all systems and; the second uses some investment analysis tools, such as the net present value (NPV), the internal rate of return (IRR) and the annualized profitability index (API). According to the results obtained from system production VII it is possible to optimize low greenhouse gases emission of beef production with a significant economic return, under certain feed conditions. Furthermore, the results verified from system production II it is possible to obtain beef production increases without the need of new livestock areas, and contribute to the proper use and preservation of the Pampa biome.