Environmental effects of extensive production processes in permanent grassland with and without alpine pasture use

Created: September 2, 2022
Last updated: April 26, 2024

Environmental effects of extensive production processes in permanent grassland with and without alpine pasture use

The yields from alpine farming are some of the most sustainable food that agriculture can produce. Their value is further increased with the welfare of the animals. Nevertheless, according to reports, “Don’t eat meat” is the number two rule for making a contribution to climate protection. A simulation should check whether this statement is valid for the extensive husbandry of ruminants. To find out, the environmental impacts are calculated with and without almane content.

Three extensive production processes with different ruminants were examined (sheep farming and lamb production, suckler cow farming and young cattle, ox fattening). All variants were evaluated with and without Alpung. Existing results from organic milk production were used as basic reference data, as it is the most intensive form of ruminant farming in extensive agriculture. A comparison with intensive livestock farming or arable farming was not carried out because these forms of farming cannot be implemented in mountain areas.

The alpine pasture period itself is largely uncontaminated by direct and indirect releases, and even the greenhouse gas pollution can be viewed as neutral in the long term. In all cases, alpine farming has a lower environmental impact. The largest influence on the results is the purchase of animals in specialized ox fattening and the lower production efficiency in lamb production. Suckler cow farming performs favorably.

Overall, the animals' earnings during the alpine pasture season are offset by virtually no emissions. Extensive use of alpine pastures is the best contribution to sustainability in keeping ruminants. Nevertheless, it is the art of agricultural management to organize the optimal use of resources for one's own location.

Influence of alpine pasture management on the environmental impact per hectare

Environmental impacts per ha (land management)
Environmental impact	Unit	Value			Normalization
		Extensive cattle farming		dairy cattle	Extensive cattle farming		dairy cattle
		with Alm	without alpine pasture		with Alm	without alpine pasture
Non-renewable energy	MJ	10.474	15.239	19.623	0,5	0,8	1
Global warming potential GWP 100	kg CO ₂ e	3.921	5.591	7.323	0,5	0,8	1
Potential nitrogen losses	kg N	13,73	17,66	19,54	0,7	0,9	1
Potential phosphorus losses	kg P	0,42	0,54	0,56	0,7	1,0	1
Heavy metals in the soil	kg 1.4-DBe	1,32	1,60	1,34	1,0	1,2	1

Influence of alpine pasture management on the environmental impact per 100 MJ VE

Environmental impacts per 100 MJ PU (nutritional mandate)
Environmental impact	Unit	Value			Normalization
		Extensive cattle farming		dairy cattle	Extensive cattle farming		dairy cattle
		with Alm	without alpine pasture		with Alm	without alpine pasture
Non-renewable energy	MJ	730	868	190	3,8	4,6	1
Global warming potential GWP 100	kg CO ₂ e	271	312	71	3,8	4,4	1
Potential nitrogen losses	kg N	0,96	1,02	0,17	5,5	5,8	1
Potential phosphorus losses	kg P	0,028	0,030	0,006	4,9	5,3	1
Heavy metals in the soil	kg 1.4-DBe	0,094	0,099	0,014	6,9	7,3	1

Influence of alpine pasture management on the environmental impact per kg of protein

Environmental impact per kg of dietary protein (nutritional mandate)
Environmental impact	Unit	Value			Normalization
		Extensive cattle farming		dairy cattle	Extensive cattle farming		dairy cattle
		with Alm	without alpine pasture		with Alm	without alpine pasture
Non-renewable energy	MJ	316	376	119	2,7	3,2	1
Global warming potential GWP 100	kg CO ₂ e	117	135	44	2,7	3,1	1
Potential nitrogen losses	kg N	0,42	0,44	0,11	3,8	4,0	1
Potential phosphorus losses	kg P	0,012	0,013	0,004	3,4	3,7	1
Heavy metals in the soil	kg 1.4-DBe	0,041	0,043	0,009	4,8	5,0	1

further links

How alpine farming affects carcass quality