SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ESTIMATING FEED EFFICIENCY AND CARBON FOOTPRINT FOR MEAT PRODUCING ANIMAL

摘要

Systems and methods for estimating meat producing animal feed conversion efficiency and carbon footprint, such as to allow adjustments to be made in the animals feed to improve meat production, reduce waste, and/or reduce the carbon footprint. In embodiments of the present application, a system is provided that integrates a digestion model of an animal feed with weight gain efficiency and carbon footprint. Such systems and methods are useful to analyze and compare different animal feed compositions that differ from one another in one or more components and/or to analyze the effect of the addition of a feed supplement on weight gain efficiency and/or carbon footprint. In embodiments, the systems and methods described herein provide a feed parameter-carbon footprint compromise. A feed parameter-carbon footprint compromise is useful to adjust animal feed composition by balancing weight gain efficiency with effects on carbon footprint. Different feed supplements or amounts of feed supplements, and/or different feed compositions are selected based on the desired feed parameter-carbon footprint compromise.