Estimation of the water footprint in the production of beef from Euro-pean cattle in Mexico

Abstract

Objective: To determine the water footprint of beef from Charolais cattle subjected to stable production and an established diet. Design/Methodology/Approach: The water footprint was estimated using the methodology proposed by Hoekstra, in which the water footprints of the ingredients of the feed consumed are added to the total volume of water that the animal drank during its life. Results: The estimated water footprint for beef in this research was 2,972.4 liters per kg, including the blue and green water footprint. Study Limitations/Implications: The calculation of the gray water footprint is not included, although it is an indicator of the specific zone. Findings/Conclusions: There is a difference between the water footprint obtained in this study and the footprint reported in the references, perhaps as a result, among other reasons, of the differences in diet and breed of the animals studied.