Work

Eco-Efficiency Indicators in Traditional Iberian Pig Farms in the Dehesa Ecosystem: Integrated Economic and Environmental Performance

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The traditional Iberian pig production system in the dehesa ecosystem of southwestern Spain and Portugal represents a significant cultural and ecological model of extensive livestock farming currently facing sustainability challenges. This study aimed to identify eco-efficiency indicators by integrating economic and environmental dimensions across traditional Iberian pig farms. Structured surveys were conducted across 68 farms, com-plemented by life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate environmental impacts including climate change, acidification, eutrophication, energy demand, and land occupation. Multivariate statistical analysis identified two distinct farm types: Mixed-orientation farms (MF, 45.59% of farms), characterised by diversified production phases and greater reliance on external inputs, and Acorn-Fed farms (AF, 54.41% of farms), specialised in acorn-based fattening with greater dehesa ecosystem integration. AF demonstrated sig-nificantly lower environmental impacts across all categories except land occupation, with reductions ranging from 9% to 18% compared to MF. Furthermore, AF achieved superior eco-efficiency with gross margins 15% higher than MF and economic returns per unit of environmental impact 32% to 59% higher across all indicators. These findings demonstrate that farrow-to-finish farms specialised in montanera systems can simulta-neously achieve greater profitability and reduced environmental impacts, providing a replicable model for sustainable livestock production in Mediterranean agroecosystems.

Source: Agriculture

DOI: 10.3390/agriculture15232515

Authors: Javier García-Gudiño, José Perea, Maria Font-i-Furnols, Elena Angón, Isabel Blanco-Penedo