Comparison of resource inputs, waste output, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing 1 billion kg of beef in US production systems characteristic of the years 1977 and 2007
| Variable . | 1977 . | 2007 . |
|---|---|---|
| Beef produced, billion kg | 10.6 | 11.9 |
| Animals1 | ||
| Supporting population2 (× 103) | 9,106 | 6,243 |
| Stockers (× 103) | 2,896 | 1,767 |
| Feedlot animals (× 103) | 2,776 | 2,322 |
| Cull animals (× 103) | 941 | 523 |
| Total animals slaughtered (× 103) | 3,656 | 2,831 |
| Total population3 (× 103) | 14,778 | 10,332 |
| Nutrition resources | ||
| Total energy requirement,4 MJ × 106 | 251,090 | 230,898 |
| Feedstuffs, kg × 106 | 72,883 | 59,320 |
| Land, ha × 103 | 9,116 | 6,106 |
| Water, L × 109 | 2,006 | 1,763 |
| Fossil fuel energy, BTU × 109 | 9,996 | 9,139 |
| Waste output | ||
| Manure, kg × 106 | 50,636 | 41,076 |
| N excretion, kg × 103 | 500,162 | 438,858 |
| P excretion, kg × 103 | 48,055 | 43,088 |
| Greenhouse gas emissions | ||
| CH4, kg × 103 | 680,995 | 553,978 |
| N2O,5 kg × 103 | 9,157 | 8,153 |
| C footprint,6 kg of CO2 × 106 | 21,445 | 17,945 |
| Variable . | 1977 . | 2007 . |
|---|---|---|
| Beef produced, billion kg | 10.6 | 11.9 |
| Animals1 | ||
| Supporting population2 (× 103) | 9,106 | 6,243 |
| Stockers (× 103) | 2,896 | 1,767 |
| Feedlot animals (× 103) | 2,776 | 2,322 |
| Cull animals (× 103) | 941 | 523 |
| Total animals slaughtered (× 103) | 3,656 | 2,831 |
| Total population3 (× 103) | 14,778 | 10,332 |
| Nutrition resources | ||
| Total energy requirement,4 MJ × 106 | 251,090 | 230,898 |
| Feedstuffs, kg × 106 | 72,883 | 59,320 |
| Land, ha × 103 | 9,116 | 6,106 |
| Water, L × 109 | 2,006 | 1,763 |
| Fossil fuel energy, BTU × 109 | 9,996 | 9,139 |
| Waste output | ||
| Manure, kg × 106 | 50,636 | 41,076 |
| N excretion, kg × 103 | 500,162 | 438,858 |
| P excretion, kg × 103 | 48,055 | 43,088 |
| Greenhouse gas emissions | ||
| CH4, kg × 103 | 680,995 | 553,978 |
| N2O,5 kg × 103 | 9,157 | 8,153 |
| C footprint,6 kg of CO2 × 106 | 21,445 | 17,945 |
1Animal numbers not adjusted for the length of time spent within each subsystem.
2Includes cows (lactating and dry), preweaning calves, heifers (<12 mo and >12 mo of age), and bulls (adolescent, yearling, and mature).
3Includes all beef breed animals within the beef production system and calf-fed dairy animals but excludes cull animals.
4Refers to nutrients required for maintenance (all animals), pregnancy (dry cows), and growth (all growing, replacement, and finishing animals).
5Includes N2O emissions from manure and inorganic fertilizer application.
6Includes CO2 emissions from manufacture of cropping inputs, crop production and harvest, fuel combustion, electricity generation, and CO2 equivalents from CH4 and N2O.
Comparison of resource inputs, waste output, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing 1 billion kg of beef in US production systems characteristic of the years 1977 and 2007
| Variable . | 1977 . | 2007 . |
|---|---|---|
| Beef produced, billion kg | 10.6 | 11.9 |
| Animals1 | ||
| Supporting population2 (× 103) | 9,106 | 6,243 |
| Stockers (× 103) | 2,896 | 1,767 |
| Feedlot animals (× 103) | 2,776 | 2,322 |
| Cull animals (× 103) | 941 | 523 |
| Total animals slaughtered (× 103) | 3,656 | 2,831 |
| Total population3 (× 103) | 14,778 | 10,332 |
| Nutrition resources | ||
| Total energy requirement,4 MJ × 106 | 251,090 | 230,898 |
| Feedstuffs, kg × 106 | 72,883 | 59,320 |
| Land, ha × 103 | 9,116 | 6,106 |
| Water, L × 109 | 2,006 | 1,763 |
| Fossil fuel energy, BTU × 109 | 9,996 | 9,139 |
| Waste output | ||
| Manure, kg × 106 | 50,636 | 41,076 |
| N excretion, kg × 103 | 500,162 | 438,858 |
| P excretion, kg × 103 | 48,055 | 43,088 |
| Greenhouse gas emissions | ||
| CH4, kg × 103 | 680,995 | 553,978 |
| N2O,5 kg × 103 | 9,157 | 8,153 |
| C footprint,6 kg of CO2 × 106 | 21,445 | 17,945 |
| Variable . | 1977 . | 2007 . |
|---|---|---|
| Beef produced, billion kg | 10.6 | 11.9 |
| Animals1 | ||
| Supporting population2 (× 103) | 9,106 | 6,243 |
| Stockers (× 103) | 2,896 | 1,767 |
| Feedlot animals (× 103) | 2,776 | 2,322 |
| Cull animals (× 103) | 941 | 523 |
| Total animals slaughtered (× 103) | 3,656 | 2,831 |
| Total population3 (× 103) | 14,778 | 10,332 |
| Nutrition resources | ||
| Total energy requirement,4 MJ × 106 | 251,090 | 230,898 |
| Feedstuffs, kg × 106 | 72,883 | 59,320 |
| Land, ha × 103 | 9,116 | 6,106 |
| Water, L × 109 | 2,006 | 1,763 |
| Fossil fuel energy, BTU × 109 | 9,996 | 9,139 |
| Waste output | ||
| Manure, kg × 106 | 50,636 | 41,076 |
| N excretion, kg × 103 | 500,162 | 438,858 |
| P excretion, kg × 103 | 48,055 | 43,088 |
| Greenhouse gas emissions | ||
| CH4, kg × 103 | 680,995 | 553,978 |
| N2O,5 kg × 103 | 9,157 | 8,153 |
| C footprint,6 kg of CO2 × 106 | 21,445 | 17,945 |
1Animal numbers not adjusted for the length of time spent within each subsystem.
2Includes cows (lactating and dry), preweaning calves, heifers (<12 mo and >12 mo of age), and bulls (adolescent, yearling, and mature).
3Includes all beef breed animals within the beef production system and calf-fed dairy animals but excludes cull animals.
4Refers to nutrients required for maintenance (all animals), pregnancy (dry cows), and growth (all growing, replacement, and finishing animals).
5Includes N2O emissions from manure and inorganic fertilizer application.
6Includes CO2 emissions from manufacture of cropping inputs, crop production and harvest, fuel combustion, electricity generation, and CO2 equivalents from CH4 and N2O.
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