Joint Benchmarking and Eco-Efficiency for the Sustainable Performance of Swine Production in Thailand

Abstract

This research aimed to develop the sustainable performance of swine production through joint benchmarking and eco-efficiency. The economic and environmental performance of 15 swine farms in Thailand between 2011 and 2013 were evaluated by Gate to Gate sector boundary. The results showed that the highest and lowest values of eco-efficiency in the swine farming sector were feed and water consumption, respectively. Benchmarking of eco-efficiencies in all indicators demonstrated that best practice for swine farms was obtained with average feed consumption of 1 kg-head-day, average water consumption of 1.17 L/headday, use of renewable energy from biogas of 0.014 kWh/head-day, use of swine fever vaccination and anthelmintics, greenhouse gas emissions of 0.00875 ton CO2-eq/head-day and total amount of waste produced of 6.25 kg/head-day. Lastly, the sustainable development of a recommended approach for swine production in Thailand, which includes breeding selection, husbandry management, farm management and attendance, and the environmental management of farms was developed using material flow analysis concepts, in-depth interview and brainstorming with best practice swine farmers.