Modeling the effects of steroid implant use on the environmental and economic sustainability of Brazilian beef production.

ABSTRACT: Brazilian beef systems contribute 14.9% of global beef production, therefore given climate change concerns, there is a clear need to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining economic viability. This study evaluated the hypothesis that steroid implant use in Brazilian beef cattle would reduce resource use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and economic costs of production, thereby improving environmental and economic sustainability. A deterministic model based on beef cattle population demographics, nutrition and performance was used to quantify resource inputs and GHG emissions per 1.0 × 10⁶ kg of hot carcass weight (HCW) beef. System boundaries extended from cropping input manufacture to cattle arriving at the slaughterhouse. Beef systems were modeled using herd population d

SUBMITTER: Capper JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8494015 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature