Faster to feed and slaughter for lower environment impact

A federal study finds environmental impacts of Swiss beef produced from pasture-fed cattle are “significantly higher” than those that are fattened in confinement and slaughtered sooner. The study by Agroscope, an agricultural research centre affiliated with the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture, compared beef produced under Swiss labels that require certain ecological benefits. It found a kilogram of meat produced from pasture-fed cattle had the highest environmental burden in 14 of 16 categories. The reason? Those that graze at pasture eat more and grow more slowly, according to a government statement on Thursday. The categories studied include energy demand, global warming potential, deforestation and use of water, phosphorus and potassium. Agroscope regularly examines ways of sustaining and improving Swiss agriculture, food and the environment. Fodder for improvement In Switzerland, about a third of the diet for fattening cattle comes from concentrates ...