Transport of pigs contributes only slightly to the total environmental impact of Danish pork production.

This is one of the results presented in a report from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus. The primary aim of the study was to present data for the environmental profile of pork and to identify the most polluting parts in the production chain by use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology.

The report states that the environmental hot spots in Danish pork production are to be found in the stages prior to the pigs’ arrival at the slaughterhouse. The greatest contributions to global warming, eutrophication and acidification are from feed production and from manure handling in pig housing and during storage. Slurry applied to the fields also contributes significantly to eutrophication.

Transport from the slaughterhouse to the Port of Harwich in England is not an environmental hot spot and contributes less than one percent of the total greenhouse gas emission from swine production.

Reduced environmental effect

The report is based on data from 2005. The scientists found that the environmental effect per kg pork has fallen since 1995.

Environmental improvements have primarily been achieved because of lower feed and protein consumption and improved manure handling. However, there is still room for improvement.

Particularly greenhouse gas emission per kg pork can be reduced. This can be achieved by using the slurry for biogas and using the biogas for production of electricity and heat.

The scientists compared the environmental impact of Danish pork production with that of British and Dutch pork production. The results show that the potential for global warming is the same, whereas British pork production has the highest eutrophication and acidification potential. Dutch pork has a slightly lower eutrophication and acidification potential compared to Danish pork production.

The publication ‘ Danish pork production – An environmental assessment’ , DJF Animal Science number 82, November 2007 can be downloaded as a pdf-file or purchased from Else Høgh, telephone: +45 8999 1028.