November 23, 2007

Poultry production uses less global energy, UK research shows

Poultry uses less global energy compared to other livestock systems, according to a DEFRA-funded research.

Adrian Williams, senior research fellow at Cranfield University, calculated the life cycle assessment (LCA) of different farming systems. Williams looked into consumption of natural resources such as minerals and fossil fuel.

Based on Williams' findings, poultry is the "market winner" when it comes to energy performance.

However, Williams discussed that Global Warming Potential (GWP) varied depending on the different types of poultry farming methods.

Williams explained that if the egg industry will move towards all cage production, GWP would fall by 10 percent while going all free range would increase it by 10 percent.

The research also showed that going organic would result in a 40 percent increase in GWP.

The main reason for this was that organic chickens use more energy. As organic chickens have a lower feed conversion, so they eat more. Feed accounts for most of the energy required in the poultry.

Williams pointed that organic also comes out worst because of the longer lifespan of birds, which leads again to longer feed consumption.