Bridging Gaps in the Agricultural Phosphorus Cycle from an Animal Husbandry Perspective—The Case of Pigs and Poultry

Michael Oster, Henry Reyer, Elizabeth Ball, Dario Fornara, John McKillen, Kristina Ulrich Sørensen, Hanne Damgaard Poulsen, Kim Andersson, Daniel Ddiba, Arno Rosemarin, Linda Arata, Paolo Sckokai, Elizabeth Magowan and Klaus Wimmers
Additional contact information
Michael Oster: Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
Henry Reyer: Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
Elizabeth Ball: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Large Park, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6DR, UK
Dario Fornara: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Large Park, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6DR, UK
John McKillen: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Large Park, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6DR, UK
Kristina Ulrich Sørensen: Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
Hanne Damgaard Poulsen: Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
Kim Andersson: Stockholm Environment Institute, Linnégatan 87D, 10451 Stockholm, Sweden
Daniel Ddiba: Stockholm Environment Institute, Linnégatan 87D, 10451 Stockholm, Sweden
Arno Rosemarin: Stockholm Environment Institute, Linnégatan 87D, 10451 Stockholm, Sweden
Linda Arata: Dipartimento di Economia agro-alimentare, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
Elizabeth Magowan: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Large Park, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6DR, UK
Klaus Wimmers: Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: Since phosphorus (P) is an essential element for life, its usage and application across agricultural production systems requires great attention. Monogastric species such as pigs and poultry can significantly contribute to global food security but these animals remain highly dependent on the supply of mineral inorganic P in their feeds. Pig and poultry, which represent 70% of the global meat production, are also major P excretors and thus represent important sources of environmental P inputs. Balancing the P cycle within farming systems is crucial to achieve P sustainable and resilient livestock production. Therefore, the interconnection of animal feed, livestock farming, manure, and soil/aquatic ecosystems requires multidisciplinary approaches to improve P management. With regard to a sustainable agricultural P cycle, this study addresses aspects of feeding strategies and animal physiology (e.g., phase feeding, P conditioning, liquid feeding, phytase supplementation, genetics), soil agroecosystems (e.g., P cycling, P losses, P gains), reuse and recycling (e.g., manure, slaughter waste), measures of farmers’ economic performance (e.g., bio-economic models), and P governance/policy instruments (e.g., P quota, P tax). To reconcile the economic and ecological sustainability of animal husbandry, the strategic objective of future research will be to provide solutions for a sufficient supply of high-quality animal products from resource-efficient and economically competitive agro-systems which are valued by society and preserve soil and aquatic ecosystems.

Keywords: agricultural cycle; bio-economic assessment; environmental phosphorus burden; farm animals; feeding strategies; monogastric species; phosphorus recycling; sustainable phosphorus governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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