Indicators for the environmental assessment of semi-natural pasture-based meat production: a Swedish case study

Abstract

Background and objectives: Livestock production affects the environment both positively and negatively, making assessment complex. This case study compiled and applied a set of indicators to assess the environmental impacts on five farms with meat production using semi-natural grasslands, comparing the results with benchmark values for average beef and sheep production.Results and discussion: Each indicator had strengths and limitations. Some, like energy use, land-use types and mean field size, relied on easily accessible data from a farm level, but reliable benchmark values were difficult to find for energy use and for land-use types other than semi-natural grassland and cropland area. Others, like carbon footprint and nutrient flows, had well-established benchmarks but required more time-consuming data collection on farms.Conclusions: Several valuable indicators were identified to capture the environmental complexity of pasture-based meat production, reflecting both positive and negative impacts. Despite challenges in quantifying benefits, including different grazing land-use types enables a more nuanced environmental assessment.