The Water Footprint of Primary Cow–Calf Production: A Revised Bottom-Up Approach Applied on Different Breeds of Beef Cattle
Beef has been identified as the farm animal product with the largest total water footprint in previous research, although various concerns have been raised regarding the top-down analyses approach followed in these studies. The objective of this study was to estimate the water footprint of weaned ca...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/9/2325 |
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| author | Frikkie Alberts Maré Henry Jordaan Mesfin Mergia Mekonnen |
| author_facet | Frikkie Alberts Maré Henry Jordaan Mesfin Mergia Mekonnen |
| author_sort | Frikkie Alberts Maré |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Beef has been identified as the farm animal product with the largest total water footprint in previous research, although various concerns have been raised regarding the top-down analyses approach followed in these studies. The objective of this study was to estimate the water footprint of weaned calves and culled cows from seven different beef breeds by applying a revised water footprint analyses approach. A bottom-up approach was followed to provide a true representation of the production system, and the water footprint of the production system, with the estimated water footprint for the system being allocated to weaned calves and culled cows according to the value factor of each. The results show that there are prominent differences between the seven breeds in terms of their respective water footprints per kilogram weaned calf, even though the total water footprint per herd for each breed revealed little variation between the breeds. There is a 45% difference between the breed with the lowest and the breed with the highest water footprint per kg calf. This knowledge can be applied by both water users (primary producers) and policy formulators to assist in the optimal use of fresh water for beef production. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:11:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec8f86ae9a254ec798fd4fcc920a6f28 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:11:35Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec8f86ae9a254ec798fd4fcc920a6f282023-11-20T10:39:10ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-08-01129232510.3390/w12092325The Water Footprint of Primary Cow–Calf Production: A Revised Bottom-Up Approach Applied on Different Breeds of Beef CattleFrikkie Alberts Maré0Henry Jordaan1Mesfin Mergia Mekonnen2Department of Agricultural Economics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South AfricaDepartment of Agricultural Economics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South AfricaDepartment of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USABeef has been identified as the farm animal product with the largest total water footprint in previous research, although various concerns have been raised regarding the top-down analyses approach followed in these studies. The objective of this study was to estimate the water footprint of weaned calves and culled cows from seven different beef breeds by applying a revised water footprint analyses approach. A bottom-up approach was followed to provide a true representation of the production system, and the water footprint of the production system, with the estimated water footprint for the system being allocated to weaned calves and culled cows according to the value factor of each. The results show that there are prominent differences between the seven breeds in terms of their respective water footprints per kilogram weaned calf, even though the total water footprint per herd for each breed revealed little variation between the breeds. There is a 45% difference between the breed with the lowest and the breed with the highest water footprint per kg calf. This knowledge can be applied by both water users (primary producers) and policy formulators to assist in the optimal use of fresh water for beef production.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/9/2325water footprintcow–calf productioncattle breedbottom-up approachweaned calves |
| spellingShingle | Frikkie Alberts Maré Henry Jordaan Mesfin Mergia Mekonnen The Water Footprint of Primary Cow–Calf Production: A Revised Bottom-Up Approach Applied on Different Breeds of Beef Cattle Water water footprint cow–calf production cattle breed bottom-up approach weaned calves |
| title | The Water Footprint of Primary Cow–Calf Production: A Revised Bottom-Up Approach Applied on Different Breeds of Beef Cattle |
| title_full | The Water Footprint of Primary Cow–Calf Production: A Revised Bottom-Up Approach Applied on Different Breeds of Beef Cattle |
| title_fullStr | The Water Footprint of Primary Cow–Calf Production: A Revised Bottom-Up Approach Applied on Different Breeds of Beef Cattle |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Water Footprint of Primary Cow–Calf Production: A Revised Bottom-Up Approach Applied on Different Breeds of Beef Cattle |
| title_short | The Water Footprint of Primary Cow–Calf Production: A Revised Bottom-Up Approach Applied on Different Breeds of Beef Cattle |
| title_sort | water footprint of primary cow calf production a revised bottom up approach applied on different breeds of beef cattle |
| topic | water footprint cow–calf production cattle breed bottom-up approach weaned calves |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/9/2325 |
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