SUSTAINABILITY FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2024 85 costs in livestock production. A lower FCR means less feed is needed to produce the same amount of animal product, reducing costs and improving profitability. • Land Use: Efficient feed conversion reduces the demand for land needed to grow feed crops, helping to preserve natural ecosystems and decrease deforestation pressures. • Water Use: Producing less feed per unit of animal product reduces the water needed for crop irrigation, which is crucial in regions facing water scarcity. 2. Environmental impact • Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Livestock production is a significant source of greenhouse gases (GHGs), particularly methane from ruminants and nitrous oxide from manure management. Improved FCR means fewer animals are needed to meet production goals, reducing total emissions. • Nutrient Runoff: Efficient feed use minimizes excess nutrients that can lead to water pollution through runoff and eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems. 3. Animal welfare • Health and Growth: Optimizing FCR often involves improving animal health and growth rates, which can lead to better welfare outcomes. Healthy animals grow more efficiently and are less susceptible to disease. 4. Economic viability • Competitiveness: Lowering FCR improves the economic viability of livestock operations by reducing input costs and increasing competitiveness in the global market. • Food Security: Efficient livestock systems contribute to food security by maximizing the output of animal protein relative to the input of resources. Improving FCR is essential for achieving sustainability in livestock production. It leads to more efficient resource use, reduced environmental impact, enhanced economic viability, and supports the well-being of animals. As global demand for animal products continues to rise, optimizing FCR will be crucial in balancing production with the need to protect and preserve natural resources. LIVESTOCK EMISSIONS Livestock emissions can be direct (farm-gate) or indirect (land use). Pre- and post-production emissions are considered separately, since they refer to emissions from manufacturing, processing, packaging, transport, retail, household consumption, and waste disposal. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agrifood Systems (2021) Million tonnes CO2eq 2 500 1 000 250 50 Farm-gate emissions Pre- and post-production Land-use change 10 Source: FAO Figure 5.
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