Environmental impacts of cow-calf beef systems with contrasted grassland management and animal production strategies in the Massif central, France

摘要: Abstract To meet the increasing market demand for store male calves sold in summer, cow-calf beef cattle producers from Charolais area, France, can opt various strategies including changing calving period. The objective of our study was to analyze and compare impacts on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), energy consumption land use two grassland-based systems relation their contrasted grassland management animal production strategies. Based repeated measurements over 2 years, we carried out a Life-Cycle Analysis designed an experimental farm. Aut-system based autumn-calvings that required budgeting sufficient quantity quality grass fodder stocks harvested cover high feed demands winter-lactating cows. Spr-system spring-calvings so peak needs herd breeding cows coincided with pasture grazing Management relied more intensive concentrate Aut-system. This showed at identical live weight produced, 18% on-farm utilized agricultural excreted 14% nitrogen released 12% enteric methane, but used 22% less mineral fertilizer, 34% fuel, 89% off-farm purchases, 73% purchases 5% bedding straw purchases. Livestock per were close between accounted 75% gross GHG emissions. As had higher productivity, it able dilute this impact produced (4% Spr-system). productivity also enabled (13% Spr-system) greater inputs (31% lower involved surface area produce beef, reduced potential carbon storage by offset is reason why led 9% net mixed bag results raises question relative lent each environmental complementarities region-wide scale.