Abstract
ContextIntensive broiler production systems are criticized by EU citizens because of their negative impact on animal welfare, the environment and human health. ObjectiveTo inform the development of sustainable broiler production systems, this paper provides insight in the synergies and trade-offs between different external factors originating from broiler production systems by developing a new analysis approach. MethodsThe approach was applied to the Dutch conventional, New Dutch Retail Standard and Extensive Indoor+ systems. The latter two systems have more stringent standards on animal welfare relative to the conventional system. Four external factors were considered, i.e. animal welfare (indicated by Welfare Quality Index score), ammonia emission (kg NH3/animal place/year), particulate matter emission (g PM10/animal place/year) and antibiotic use (defined daily doses animal). Results and conclusionsResults show that the shift from a fast-growing breed towards a slower-growing breed caused synergy by improving animal welfare and lowering antibiotic use. Furthermore, the reduction in protein content of the feed, and possibly the reduction in stocking density, caused synergy by enhancing animal welfare and lowering ammonia emission. System changes that stimulated activity, such as the reduction in stocking density, enhanced animal welfare but caused a trade-off with particulate matter emission. Although the New Dutch Retail Standard and Extensive Indoor+ system were characterized by a higher ammonia and particulate matter emission per animal place per year relative to the conventional system, experts estimated that these emissions were partially (New Dutch Retail Standard) or fully (Extensive Indoor+) offset at farm level via a lower stocking density. Overall, we conclude that future development of broiler production systems can exploit the synergy between animal welfare, antibiotic use, and ammonia emission and minimize the trade-off between animal welfare and particulate matter emission. SignificanceThe insights obtained from this paper can support the development of sustainable broiler production systems that minimize external factors originating from these systems.
Highlights
EU citizens have expressed widespread concerns about the loss of biodiversity, the presence of antibiotic residues in meat, and the welfare of farmed animals (Eurobarometer, 2015, 2016, 2019)
The effects of changes in system attributes on external factors were analyzed to identify the synergies and trade-offs caused by these changes
The findings from this paper indicate that improvements in Animal Welfare (AW) may cause a synergy with ABU and do not necessarily cause a trade-off with NH3 emission
Summary
EU citizens have expressed widespread concerns about the loss of biodiversity, the presence of antibiotic residues in meat, and the welfare of farmed animals (Eurobarometer, 2015, 2016, 2019). To counteract the critique on AW, private chain actors introduced more extensive systems containing slower-growing breeds, such as the Label Rouge in France and Better Life in the Netherlands. These systems are found to improve AW (Bracke et al, 2019), these systems have a higher environmental burden (expressed per kg edible carcass weight) relative to the more intensive conventional systems (Leinonen et al, 2012).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
