Environmental impacts of precision feeding programs applied in Brazilian pig production

Precision feeding is an innovative approach that enhances the sustainability of pig production systems by providing feed with the exact nutrient composition at the right time to each individual according to its pattern of feed intake and growth. This study was undertaken to evaluate the potential environmental impact of moving from conventional to precision feeding systems in Brazilian growing-finishing piggeries. Standard procedures were used for Life Cycle Assessment, considering cradle-to-farm-gate boundary. The inputs and outputs of each interface of the life cycle (production/cultivation of feed ingredients, processing in the feed industry, and animal husbandry) were organized in a model using the SimaPro software. Crops were assumed to be produced in the Central-West region of Brazil, while pigs were raised in the South region. A complete farrow-to-finish swine unit was simulated in this case study. Three feeding systems were simulated for growing-finishing pigs: (1) the conventional 3-phase feeding (CON) provided the same feed to all pigs within each feeding phase; (2) the precision group-feeding system (PF_G) provided to all the pigs a feed adjusted daily to group nutrient requirements; and (3) the individual precision feeding systems (PF_I), in which each pig received a feed tailored daily to its individual requirements. The potential climate change impacts of finished pigs (functional unit: 1 kg, at farm gate) was 2.36 kg of CO₂-eq in the CON feeding program, while estimated potential impacts of eutrophication and acidification were 13.2 g of PO₄-eq and 31.8 g of SO₂-eq, respectively. Compared to the CON feeding system, the PF_G system reduced by 3, 4, and 3% the potential impacts of climate change, eutrophication, and acidification, respectively. The PF_I allowed further mitigation of the environmental impacts. Feeding pigs according to its individual nutrient requirement reduced by 5% the potential impacts of climate change, eutrophication, and acidification compared to the CON program. Results clearly indicate that precision feeding is an effective approach for improving environmental sustainability of Brazilian pig production systems.