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Carbon Footprint of an Extensively Raised, Low-Productivity Sheep Population

Author

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  • Carolina Reyes-Palomo

    (Cátedra de Producción Ecológica Ecovalia-Clemente Mata, Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain)

  • Cipriano Díaz-Gaona

    (Cátedra de Producción Ecológica Ecovalia-Clemente Mata, Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain)

  • Santos Sanz-Fernández

    (Cátedra de Producción Ecológica Ecovalia-Clemente Mata, Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain)

  • Isabel Muñoz-Cobos

    (Cátedra de Producción Ecológica Ecovalia-Clemente Mata, Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain)

  • Eduardo Aguilera

    (Institute of Economics, Geography and Demography, Spanish National Research Council, C/Albasanz 26–28, 28037 Madrid, Spain
    Alimentta, Think Tank para la Transición Alimentaria, 18320 Santa Fe, Spain)

  • Vicente Rodríguez-Estévez

    (Cátedra de Producción Ecológica Ecovalia-Clemente Mata, Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain
    UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain)

Abstract

Extensive traditional livestock systems currently face various threats, leading to their disappearance. An example of these extensive livestock farming systems is the production of the Lojeña sheep breed in the Sierra de Loja (Granada, Spain), with a census of 24,511 ewes in 2021. The aim of this work is to calculate the carbon footprint (CF) of this local breed in this region. This study is based on data collected from 27 Lojeña sheep farms producing weaned lambs (≤14 kg, 25 farms), fattened lambs (≈25 kg, 7 farms), culled animals (24 farms) and greasy wool (27 farms). Most of these farms (78%) were organically (ORG) certified and seven were conventionally (CONV) managed. The analysed farms represent 93% of the total number of farms producing Lojeña sheep in the Sierra de Loja. The CF was calculated with a “cradle to farm gate” approach. The average C footprints were 27.5 ± 6.8 kg CO 2 eq kg LW −1 for weaned lambs, 21.8 ± 8.5 kg CO 2 eq kg LW −1 for fattened lambs, 4.1 ± 2.6 kg CO 2 eq kg LW −1 for culled animals and 2.2 ± 0.6 kg CO 2 eq kg −1 for greasy wool, with a not statistically different average CF in ORG than in CONV farms. Enteric fermentation represents the main source of emissions (>60%) in all the products, and external feeding (including transport, and emissions from producing the feed) represents the second one (>10%). There was an inverse relationship between CF and productivity (lambs sold ewe −1 year −1 ), leading to lower footprints on those farms with the higher productivity. A direct relationship between CF and stocking rate (livestock units ha −1 ) has been identified.

Suggested Citation

  • Carolina Reyes-Palomo & Cipriano Díaz-Gaona & Santos Sanz-Fernández & Isabel Muñoz-Cobos & Eduardo Aguilera & Vicente Rodríguez-Estévez, 2024. "Carbon Footprint of an Extensively Raised, Low-Productivity Sheep Population," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:8:p:1304-:d:1451679
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aguilera, Eduardo & Díaz-Gaona, Cipriano & García-Laureano, Raquel & Reyes-Palomo, Carolina & Guzmán, Gloria I. & Ortolani, Livia & Sánchez-Rodríguez, Manuel & Rodríguez-Estévez, Vicente, 2020. "Agroecology for adaptation to climate change and resource depletion in the Mediterranean region. A review," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    2. Víctor Fernández-García & Leonor Calvo, 2023. "Landscape Implications of Contemporary Abandonment of Extensive Sheep Grazing in a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Manuel P. dos Santos & Tiago G. Morais & Tiago Domingos & Ricardo F. M. Teixeira, 2022. "Valuing Ecosystem Services Provided by Pasture-Based Beef Farms in Alentejo, Portugal," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-15, December.
    4. O'Brien, D. & Bohan, A. & McHugh, N. & Shalloo, L., 2016. "A life cycle assessment of the effect of intensification on the environmental impacts and resource use of grass-based sheep farming," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 95-104.
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