The net contribution of dairy production to human food supply: The case of Austrian dairy farms

Ertl, Paul; Klocker, Hannes; Hörtenhuber, Stefan; Knaus, Wilhelm; Zollitsch, Werner

doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2015.04.004

Cited by 85 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…The PQR was lowest for PDCAAS t (1.40) and highest for DIAAS (1.87) ( Table 2). Combining this qualitative ratio (PQR) with the quantitative changes in human-edible protein for the same farms (with an average heFCE of 1.15 (Ertl et al, 2015)), resulted in one single value (heFCE × PQR), which was on average between 1.61 and 2.15 for the 30 case study farms, depending on the method used to determine protein quality. The effect of the combination of the quantitative heFCE with the qualitative PQR (heFCE × PQR) on the net contribution to human protein supply of the individual farms Ratio between kg CP from cereal feeds and kg CP from protein feeds Figure 1 Relationship between digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS) for a mixture of potentially human-edible inputs and the ratio of kilogram CP supplied by cereal feeds (all feedstuffs containing a potential human-edible fraction with a CP content of <20% in the dry matter) to kilogram CP supplied by protein feeds (>20% CP in the dry matter) on selected dairy farms (n = 29); y = 65.69 × − 0.2 (R 2 = 0.92).…”

Section: Protein Scores For Inputs and Outputsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The amount of potentially human-edible protein from feedstuffs was estimated based on current standard technology for protein extraction for each feedstuff (i.e. the medium scenario; Ertl et al, 2015). For the calculations in this study, only feedstuffs containing potentially human-edible protein were considered, as protein quality of human-inedible feedstuffs (such as forages) is not relevant for the research question.…”

Section: Data Sources and Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On average, these farms kept 28 dairy cows, with an annual milk yield of about 7540 kg energy-corrected milk/cow and an average concentrate supplementation of 0.287 kg/kg energy-corrected milk (Hörtenhuber et al, 2013). A more detailed overview of the main farm characteristics and production data has been given elsewhere (Ertl et al, 2015). Calculations of potentially human-edible protein inputs via feedstuffs, as well as protein outputs via animal products were performed as described in detail in Ertl et al (2015).…”

Section: Data Sources and Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A more detailed overview of the main farm characteristics and production data has been given elsewhere (Ertl et al, 2015). Calculations of potentially human-edible protein inputs via feedstuffs, as well as protein outputs via animal products were performed as described in detail in Ertl et al (2015). The amount of potentially human-edible protein from feedstuffs was estimated based on current standard technology for protein extraction for each feedstuff (i.e.…”

Section: Data Sources and Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among various existing concepts, one way to measure the net contribution of livestock to human food supply is the human-edible feed conversion efficiency (heFCE), defined as human-edible output via the animal products divided by the potentially human-edible input via feedstuffs (Wilkinson, 2011;Ertl et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An approach to including protein quality when assessing the net contribution of livestock to human food supply

Ertl

Knaus

Zollitsch

2016

Animal

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The production of protein from animal sources is often criticized because of the low efficiency of converting plant protein from feeds into protein in the animal products. However, this critique does not consider the fact that large portions of the plant-based proteins fed to animals may be human-inedible and that the quality of animal proteins is usually superior as compared with plant proteins. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess changes in protein quality in the course of the transformation of potentially human-edible plant proteins into animal products via livestock production; data from 30 Austrian dairy farms were used as a case study. A second aim was to develop an approach for combining these changes with quantitative aspects (e.g. with the human-edible feed conversion efficiency (heFCE), defined as kilogram protein in the animal product divided by kilogram potentially human-edible protein in the feeds). Protein quality of potentially human-edible inputs and outputs was assessed using the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score and the digestible indispensable amino acid score, two methods proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to describe the nutritional value of proteins for humans. Depending on the method used, protein scores were between 1.40 and 1.87 times higher for the animal products than for the potentially human-edible plant protein input on a barn-gate level ( = protein quality ratio (PQR)). Combining the PQR of 1.87 with the heFCE for the same farms resulted in heFCE × PQR of 2.15. Thus, considering both quantity and quality, the value of the proteins in the animal products for human consumption (in this case in milk and beef) is 2.15 times higher than that of proteins in the potentially human-edible plant protein inputs. The results of this study emphasize the necessity of including protein quality changes resulting from the transformation of plant proteins to animal proteins when evaluating the net contribution of livestock to the human food supply. Furthermore, these differences in protein quality might also need to be considered when choosing a functional unit for the assessment of environmental impacts of the production of different proteins.

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Section: Protein Scores For Inputs and Outputsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Data Sources and Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Data Sources and Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Data Sources and Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

An approach to including protein quality when assessing the net contribution of livestock to human food supply

Ertl

Knaus

Zollitsch

2016

Animal

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A review on the potentials of using feeds rich in water‐soluble carbohydrates to enhance rumen health and sustainability of dairy cattle production

Klevenhusen

Zebeli

2021

J Sci Food Agric

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Cows are adapted to degrade structural plant carbohydrates (SC), such as cellulose and hemicelluloses, prevailing in grasses. Yet, the need for energy-dense diets in many intensive dairy production systems has shifted the dairy cattleʼs diet from SC-rich to high levels of starch. Feeding of starch-rich diets increases the risk of ruminal acidosis in cows, and feeding starch in the form of grains intensifies the competition over cereal grains and arable land among different livestock species, as well as between livestock and humans. Besides cellulose and hemicelluloses, grasses are also often rich in water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), which comprise mono-, di-, oligo-and polysaccharides (fructans). Although the ruminal fermentation profile of monoand disaccharides resembles that of starch, the degradation of oligo-and polysaccharides is slower, and their fermentation elicits a rather protecting effect on ruminal pH. When harvested in an early phase (i.e. ear emergence), grass hay and silages can reach WSC levels up to 150-200 g kg −1 dry matter and energy levels close to starch-rich diets, allowing a significantly reduced inclusion of concentrate supplements. By doing so, this will enhance both rumen health and the sustainability of milk production. However, because the WSC are chemically very heterogeneous, the patterns and extent of their ruminal fermentation are difficult to predict without a clear analytical characterization. This review article aims to summarize both the benefits and potentials, as well as the challenges, with respect to using WSC-rich feedstuffs in the nutrition of dairy cattle and their effects on ruminal fermentation characteristics and milk production.

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Protein efficiency in intensive dairy production: a Swedish example

et al. 2017

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Dairy cows in high-yielding, intensive production systems such as those used in Sweden have the capacity to convert low-value inedible protein into high-value edible protein. However, a minor part of the dairy cow diet is edible for humans and this fraction must be minimised to justify dairy production. These results are in line with previous findings on protein conversion efficiency and add scientific input to the debate on sustainable food systems and sustainable diets. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

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The net contribution of dairy production to human food supply: The case of Austrian dairy farms

Cited by 85 publications

References 42 publications

An approach to including protein quality when assessing the net contribution of livestock to human food supply

An approach to including protein quality when assessing the net contribution of livestock to human food supply

A review on the potentials of using feeds rich in water‐soluble carbohydrates to enhance rumen health and sustainability of dairy cattle production

Protein efficiency in intensive dairy production: a Swedish example

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