Biomass Use, Production, Feed Efficiencies, And Greenhouse Gas Emissions From “Livestock”

This article from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences introduces a 120-page appendix describing animal distribution, biomass consumption (feed), farm size and practices, and animal-related greenhouse gas emissions in global “livestock” farming. The report is presented as a baseline dataset for environmental and agricultural decisions. Animal advocates may wish to address its assumptions that animal farming is key to food security, and that conversion to western-style factory farming best reduces its environmental impacts in the developing world. The comparison of “feed efficiency” in meat vs. dairy production may also be of interest.

“This report is unique in presenting a high-resolution dataset of biomass use, production, feed efficiencies, and greenhouse gas emissions by global livestock. This information will allow the global-change research community in enhancing our understanding of the sustainability of livestock systems and their role in food security, livelihoods and environmental sustainability.”