Massese, Sarda and Lacaune Dairy Sheep Breeds: An Environmental Impact Comparison

Irene Sodi (), Mina Martini, Neus Sanjuàn, Sergio Saia, Iolanda Altomonte, Andrea Andreucci, Baldassare Fronte, Francesca Pedonese, Lorella Giuliotti, Roberta Ciampolini and Federica Salari
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Irene Sodi: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Mina Martini: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Neus Sanjuàn: Department of Food Technology (ASPA Group), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Sergio Saia: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Iolanda Altomonte: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Andrea Andreucci: Centre for Climate Change Impact (CIRSEC), University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Baldassare Fronte: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Francesca Pedonese: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Lorella Giuliotti: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Roberta Ciampolini: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Federica Salari: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: The dairy sheep sector is an important sector in semiarid and arid areas. So far, the environmental impact of sheep milk production in these areas is scarcely known. This study aimed to assess the environmental impact of milk production on three farms that differ in the breed reared, namely Sarda (S), Lacaune (L) and Massese (M), in Tuscany (a Mediterranean region in central Italy). The Life Cycle Assessment methodology was applied to calculate the environmental performance of the farms, and the following impact categories were studied: climate change, freshwater, marine and terrestrial eutrophication, acidification, water use and land use. The L farm showed the lowest values for most impact categories and the M farm the highest. These results can be attributed to the greater productivity and efficiency of the L breed compared to the other two. Only for water use did the M farm cause a lower impact, underscoring the importance of applying characterization factors at the sub-watershed level.

Keywords: sheep breed; milk production; sustainability; life cycle assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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