Nutrient Challenges in Global Livestock Supply Chains
Author | : |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 173 |
Release | : 2019 |
ISBN-10 | : 9463435824 |
ISBN-13 | : 9789463435826 |
Rating | : 4/5 (24 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: To this end, in Chapter 3, a comprehensive framework of indicators, based on the life-cycle approach, was developed to assess the efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus use. The framework represents nutrient flows in the typical livestock supply chain from the cradle-to-primary-processing-gate, including crop/pasture production, animal production and primary processing stage as well as the transportation of feed materials, live animals or animal products. It encompassed three indicators, including the life-cycle nutrient use efficiency (life-cycle-NUE), life-cycle net nutrient balance (life-cycle-NNB) and nutrient hotspot index (NHI). The framework was tested for a case study of mixed dairy supply chains in Europe. The proposed indicators were found to be suitable to describe different aspects of nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics and, therefore, were all needed.