Life Cycle Assessment of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine

Transcription

1 Life Cycle Assessment of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine SUMMARY Commissioned by Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH; Hanau-Wolfgang Heidelberg, May 11, 218 ifeu Wilckensstraße 3 D Heidelberg Telefon +49 () Telefax +49 () ifeu@ifeu.de

2 Life Cycle Assessment of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine SUMMARY Authors Andreas Detzel Mirjam Busch Martina Krüger Commissioned by Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH; Hanau-Wolfgang. Contact: ifeu Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Heidelberg GmbH Wilckensstraße 3 D-6912 Heidelberg Tel. +49 () ; Fax: Heidelberg, May 11, 218

3 Table of Contents List of Tables 3 List of Figures 3 Abbreviations 4 1 Introduction and Objectives Introduction Use of the Study and Critical Review 6 2 Product Function Functional Unit Feed Mixtures 7 3 Modelling of the Product Systems Studied Product Systems Modelling Assumptions 11 4 Results 15 5 Conclusions 26 6 References 33

4 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 3 List of Tables TABLE 2-1: PHASE AGGREGATED FEED MIXTURES (PAF) FOR THE ORGANIC BROILERS- WITH AND WITHOUT DL-METHIONINE SUPPLEMENTATION (DLM)... 8 TABLE 2-2: PHASES OF AGGREGATED FEED MIXTURES (PAF) FOR THE ORGANIC LAYING HENS- WITH AND WITHOUT DL-METHIONINE SUPPLEMENTATION (DLM)... 9 TABLE 3-1: MODELED REGIONS AND COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN OF FEED (IMPORT SHARE IS DERIVED FROM TOTAL SALES VOLUME AND GERMAN PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION OF IMPORT SHARE AMONG RELEVANT IMPORTING COUNTRIES) TABLE 3-2: YIELDS FROM COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN TABLE 3-3: SUMMARY OF EMISSIONS FROM POULTRY FARMING List of Figures FIGURE 3-1: FIGURE 3-2: FIGURE 4-1: FIGURE 4-2: FIGURE 4-3: FIGURE 4-4: FIGURE 4-5: FIGURE 4-6: FIGURE 4-7: FIGURE 4-8: OVERVIEW OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE INVESTIGATED SYSTEMS FOR BROILER FATTENING FOR THE PRODUCTION OF 1, KG OF BROILER MASS... 1 OVERVIEW OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE INVESTIGATED SYSTEMS FOR LAYING HENS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF 1, KG OF LAYING HEN MASS SECTORAL RESULTS OF THE BROILER BASE SCENARIO, INDICATORS: CLIMATE CHANGE, AQUATIC EUTROPHICATION AND STRATOSPHERIC OZONE DEPLETION SECTORAL RESULTS OF THE BROILER BASE SCENARIO, INDICATORS: TERRESTRIAL EUTROPHICATION, ACIDIFICATION AND PHOTO- OXIDANT FORMATION SECTORAL RESULTS OF THE BROILER BASE SCENARIO, INDICATORS: PARTICULATE MATTER, NITRATE IN WATER BODIES AND LAND USE... 2 SECTORAL RESULTS OF THE BROILER BASE SCENARIO, INDICATORS: CUMULATIVE ENERGY DEMAND (CED, NON-RENEWABLE), CUMULATIVE ENERGY DEMAND (CED, RENEWABLE) AND CUMULATIVE ENERGY DEMAND (CED, IN TOTAL) SECTORAL RESULTS OF THE LAYING HEN BASE SCENARIO, INDICATORS: CLIMATE CHANGE, AQUATIC EUTROPHICATION AND STRATOSPHERIC OZONE DEPLETION SECTORAL RESULTS OF THE LAYING HEN BASE SCENARIO, INDICATORS: TERRESTRIAL EUTROPHICATION, ACIDIFICATION AND PHOTO-OXIDANT FORMATION SECTORAL RESULTS OF THE LAYING HEN BASE SCENARIO, INDICATORS: PARTICULATE MATTER, NITRATE IN WATER BODIES AND LAND USE SECTORAL RESULTS OF THE LAYING HEN BASE SCENARIO, INDICATORS: CUMULATIVE ENERGY DEMAND (CED, NON-RENEWABLE), CUMULATIVE ENERGY DEMAND (CED, RENEWABLE) AND CUMULATIVE ENERGY DEMAND (CED, IN TOTAL)... 25

5 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 4 Abbreviations AMEN AMI AS BMU CED DLM FCR GfE ifeu FW ISO KTBL MIR NMVOC NRWC NO X PAF VOC WG Apparent Metabolizable Energy, nitrogen-corrected Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft Animal Space Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety) Primary Energy Demand DL-Methionine (MetAMINO ) Feed Conversion Ratio Gesellschaft für Ernährungsphysiologie (Society of Nutrition Physiology) Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Heidelberg GmbH Fresh Weight International Organization for Standardisation Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft (Association for Technology and Structures in Agriculture) Maximum Incremental Reactivity Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds Normalised Reference Water Content Nitrous Oxide Phase Aggregated Feed Mixtures Volatile Organic Compounds Wassergehalt (Water Content)

6 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 5 1 Introduction and Objectives 1.1 Introduction In the yield-oriented livestock farming, need-based protein supply is a crucial factor for both animal health and cost-effectiveness. However, the availability of high-quality protein feeds is currently limited for both conventional and organic agriculture, as it can only be guaranteed in Germany (as well as throughout the EU) through imports. In conventional poultry farming, feed is usually supplemented with synthetic DL-Methionine, which can optimize the amino acid composition while also reducing the total protein requirement. Organic poultry farming, however, does not permit feed supplementation with synthetically-produced additives. Given the lack of amino acid availability for organically produced protein feed from Europe, the question arises as to whether supplementation with DL-Methionine could also be beneficial in organic poultry farming. This question was addressed in the present Life Cycle Assessment. The fundamental legal boundary conditions of the EU legislation on organic farming were considered. The EU Organic Farming Regulation (EC) No. 834/27 strives for livestock feed to be 1 % organic. An amendment to the EU Organic Regulation is expected to be adopted in mid-218 and to enter into force on 1 January 221. Based on the information available at the time of the report preparation, the new organic regulation provides for a 3 % share of the farm's own or regional feed quantity. The currently admissible mixture of maximum 5 % protein feed from conventional agriculture will only be permitted for young poultry and piglets. In the present Life Cycle Assessment, a hypothetical supplementation of feed mixtures with synthetic DL- Methionine in ecological laying hen keeping and broiler fattening (synonym: chicken husbandry) in Germany was investigated. The starting point was 1 % organic feed mixtures, which were compared with DL-Methioninesupplemented diet mixes in an eco-friendly manner. The study should thus provide a reliable base for assessing the potential use of DL-Methionine in organic poultry feeding from an ecological point of view. The framework of the study was chosen so, that the following aspects could be considered: Increase of feed content from domestic protein feeds Encouragement of cultivation and utilization of grain legumes as a contribution to more sustainable agriculture Adjustment of crude protein content in feed mixtures to reduce nitrogen excretions from poultry farming Reduction of nitrogen emissions from organic poultry farming into groundwater and air In order to put the results to the attention of a wider public, the study has undergone a critical review to ensure compliance with ISO 1444 (26) and ISO 144 (26).

7 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine Use of the Study and Critical Review The results presented in this report are primarily intended for the client. Other addressees are: Representatives and associations of agriculture, environmental protection and the food industry Consumers, consumer associations and customers (e.g. compound feed producers) Policy makers, committees and parties The critical review was carried out by the following persons: Dominik Müller, TÜV Rheinland Jochen Leopold, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture - FiBL Gerhard Bellof, Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University - HSWT

8 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 7 2 Product Function 2.1 Functional Unit All studied feed mix options were such as to meet the recommended methionine requirement. The supply of methionine should be ensured by either a targeted selection of the feed mix components or by a supplementation with synthetic DL-Methionine (DLM), so that a needs-based methionine supply is guaranteed in all cases. For organic broiler fattening with slow-growing origins and a fattening period of 56 days, an average feed consumption of 2.3 kg per kg of growth is assumed (KTBL 217a). An AMEN-content of 11. MJ / kg was calculated in the complete feed mixtures for the ecological feeding of laying hens. Based on the information provided by the Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft (KTBL) (KTBL 217a), a feed requirement of 2.2 kg per kg egg mass for laying hens like e.g. origin "Lohmann Brown Classic" can be assumed. A uniform feed utilization ratio and therefore an identical feed composition per kg living weight and per kg of egg mass respectively was assumed for all investigated feed mixtures. A potentially improved feed use - due to reduced metabolic activity - through a reduced protein intake with increasing DL-Methionine supplementation (see also Table 2-1 and 2-2) was not considered. The functional unit in the present study is the production of 1, kg live weight (broiler) or 1, kg egg mass (laying hens) under the organic farming conditions in Germany. Based on this, the following average feed requirement was calculated: 2,3 kg for broilers (per 1, kg live weight) (FCR = 1: 2,3) 2,642 kg for laying hens (including laying hen rearing per 1, kg egg mass) 2.2 Feed Mixtures The average basic feed mixture (1 % organic feeding) consists of only native raw materials (broiler: Table 2-1). A methionine supply according to the recommendations of the Society for Nutritional Physiology (GfE 1999) is achieved here without supplementation, but with crude protein levels that are above the actual need. The 1 % organic feed mixes are based on feeding trials of Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (Weindl & Bellof 217). Based on this, a gradual methionine supplementation was considered:,5 g DLM/kg feed mixture 1, g DLM/kg feed mixture 1,5 g DLM/kg feed mixture A supplementation higher than 1.5 g / kg was not considered in the present study because at higher concentrations, methionine is replaced by other amino acids (e.g. tryptophan, threonine) as the first limiting essential amino acid in the organic feed.

9 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 8 Table 2-1 and Table 2-2 show the observed phase aggregated feed mixtures (PAF) for broiler and laying hens as well as a comparison of the recommended nutrient contents on the basis of the GfE recommendations (GfE 1999). Table 2-1: Phase aggregated feed mixtures (PAF) for the organic broilers- with and without DL-Methionine supplementation (DLM) (Weindl & Bellof 217) Scenarios Broiler: Weighted Averaged Feed Mixture PAF - Base PAF - DLM +.5 % Met. AME N = Apparent Metabolizable Energy, nitrogen-corrected; FW = Fresh Weight PAF - DLM +.1 % Met. PAF - DLM +.15 % Met. Composition Animal Feed of the Organic Farming Peas % Soybean Cake % Sunflower Cake % Alfalfa Green Meal % Wheat % Maize % Vegetable Oil % Mineral Components Feeding Lime % Monocalcium Phosphate % Mineral Feed % Amino Acid Supplementation DL-Methionine % Sum % Contents Energy (AME N ) MJ/kg Raw Protein % Raw Fibre % Raw Fat % Phosphorus % Digestible Phosphorus % Amino Acid (Gross Content transfered on FM) Lysine % Methionine % Methionine+ Cystine % Tryptophan % Threonine % The broilers and laying hens feed mixtures are based on four and three different feeding phases, respectively. The variants shown in the table represent possible feed mixtures in organic farming in which the use of regionallyproducible protein feed is increased. The pea is used in this study as a suitable protein rich feed, which can be added in higher amount. The pea is a representative of other "classic" domestic grain legumes such as field bean,

10 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 9 lupine and peas. Increasing pea levels in the feed mixture lead to a methionine deficiency, which is compensated in this study by supplementation with DL-Methionine. Table 2-2: Phase aggregated feed mixtures (PAF) for the organic laying hens- with and without DL-Methionine supplementation (DLM) (Weindl & Bellof 217) Scenarios Laying Hen: Weighted Averaged Feed Mixture PAF - Base PAF - DLM +.5 % Met. PAF - DLM +.1 % Met. PAF - DLM +.15 % Met. Composition Animal Feed of the Organic Farming Peas % Soybean Cake % Sunflower Cake % Alfalfa Green Meal % Wheat % Maize % Vegetable Oil % Mineral Components Feeding Lime % Monocalcium Phosphate % Mineral Feed % Amino Acid Supplementation DL-Methionine % Sum % Contents Energy (AME N ) MJ/kg Raw Protein % Raw Fibre % Raw Fat % Phosphorus % Digestable Phosphorus % Amino Acid (Gross Content transfered on FM) Methionine % Methionine+ Cystine % Tryptophan % Threonine % AME N = Apparent Metabolizable Energy, nitrogen-corrected; FW = Fresh Weight

11 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 1 3 Modelling of the Product Systems 3.1 Product Systems Studied The product systems of broiler fattening and laying hen husbandry considered in the present study and the process steps involved are schematically shown in Figure 3-1 and Figure 3-2. Figure 3-1: Overview of the life cycle of the investigated systems for broiler fattening for the production of 1, kg of broiler mass ("T" are transport processes, "N" plant-available nitrogen, by N-fixation of legumes or by manure) The system boundaries of agricultural subsystems are limited in time by one vegetation period each. In agricultural practice, however, the crops are cultivated in crop rotation. The individual crop rotations influence each other in various ways, such as through improved soil properties. This study makes a necessary and admissible simplification by neglecting these crop rotation influences. Essential exceptions to this simplification are the nitrogen residues of the legumes soybean, pea and alfalfa. Symbiosis activities with root-nodule bacteria cause these additional nitrogen inputs, which are considered in the study via a clover grass credit.

12 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 11 In the various feeding scenarios of laying hens and broilers, the animals excrete nitrogen in the form of poultry excrement. If the nitrogen supplied via manure is not used within the considered production systems through wheat, maize or sunflower cultivation, the remaining N surpluses are taken into account in the form of a credit entry. Figure 3-2: Overview of the life cycle of the investigated systems for laying hens for the production of 1, kg of laying hen mass ("T" are transport processes, "N" plant-available nitrogen, by N-fixation of legumes or by manure) Processes of raw material, fuel and energy supply, as well as the disposal of waste are not listed explicitly to maintain clarity. 3.2 Modelling Assumptions Average conditions for Germany are used for the modelling of poultry farming and manure application to agricultural land. The balanced origin of organic feedstuffs is based on the market situation of recent years and consists of a proportionate share of domestic cultivation and cultivation in other European countries, as well as partly from overseas (import share).

13 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 12 The import volumes and countries of origin used in the study are listed in Table 3-1. The data are essentially based on The AMI market charts on import offers of organic products in Germany (organic cereals and organic legumes / oilseeds) (AMI 217a and AMI 217b), as well as The Federal Agricultural Structure Survey 216 (Destatis 217a) As far as possible, they were checked for plausibility by experts and processors, especially for soybeans. Table 3-1: Modeled regions and countries of origin of feed (import share is derived from total sales volume and German production, distribution of import share among relevant importing countries) according to 1) Farm Structure Survey 216, 2) AMI (217a), AMI (217b) Region of Origin Unit Forage Peas Soybean Sunflower Alfalfa Wheat Maize Clover Germany 1 % Imports from the European Foreign Countries, modelled by Romania 2 % Ukraine 2 % Lithuania 2 % Imports from Overseas, modelled by China 2 % Import Share % The reference period of the study presented here essentially covers the years 214 to 216. In these years, the cultivation of peas and grain legumes (total) in conventional and organic farming in Germany increased again. The cultivation of organic fodder peas increased in 216 to 6,936 ha, reaching about 7 % of the total area of German pea cultivation. Grain legume cultivation (conventional and organic agriculture) has more than doubled since 213 (AMI 216). The cultivation of organic feed is based on the average cultivation situation of the last years ( ), if available. The 1 % organic feed mixes from the basic scenario and the supplemented variants are based on the current state of research in poultry feeding in organic farming and are the result of feeding trials conducted at Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (Weindl & Bellof 217). The essential basis for the modelling and balancing of agricultural production are figures for organic farming from KTBL (215) and KTBL (217b). These data can be considered as a very good representation of domestic production in organic farming. An exact reference year cannot be given for this data, but the data on agricultural production are generally averages of the recent years of cultivation, as these differ in their growing conditions for climatic reasons. This database therefore reflects the average German conditions of organic farming. Organic farming in other countries is specified by yields. This means that the fertilizer inputs and the use of seeds are adjusted to the respective yield per area.

14 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 13 Agricultural production is generally influenced by a variety of factors that cannot or only to a limited extent be influenced by the producer (for example, location factors such as climate, soils, land exposure, relief). Therefore, the data for cultivating crops "naturally" ranges. The data are thus the result of averaging total production (e.g. wheat yield in Germany) or refer to an average location, meaning conditions at average sites (e.g. recommendations for liming based on mean ph and humus content). The yields of each country of origin used in this study are summarized in Table 3-2 and are based on the data sources and reference years documented in the table, depending on the country of cultivation and crop. Table 3-2: Yields from countries of origin (Data sources: 1 KTBL (217b); 2 KTBL (215) 3 Donausoja (217) Reference years ; 4 based on AMI (217a, b); 5 AMI (217a, b) reference year 214; 6 Aušre Arlauskiene et al. (215), reference year ) Growing Countries Unit Forage Peas Soybean Sunflower Alfalfa Wheat Maize Clover Germany 1 t/ha 3, 1 2,6 3 3, ,9 1 5,7 18 Romania 2 t/ha - 2,1 3 1,6 4-3, 4 3,8 4 - Ukraine 3 t/ha - - 1,7 5-2,5 5 4,5 5 - Lithuania 4 t/ha 3, China 3 t/ha - 2, Normalised Reference Water Content (NRWC) % NRWC NRWC = Normalised Reference Water Content N-Fixation via Legumes In the cultivation of leguminous plants, elemental nitrogen is bound to nodule bacteria through symbiosis. This serves as a nutrient to the plant and is partially removed from the soil with the crop at the end of the growing season. However, a part of the fixed nitrogen remains in the soil and is available to the subsequently cultivated crop. The nitrogen balance, which leads to a corresponding pre crop benefit, thus results from the bound nitrogen of the plant (gross fixation) and the withdrawal by the harvested product. The fixation performance depends on the soil type and soil structure, the N stock of the soil and the type of legume. However, depending on the type of legume and soil type, the bandwidths of such fixation can be enormous. This study is based on the nitrogen balances documented in KTBL (215) for average German conditions. Nitrogen Emissions The following Table 3-3 summarizes the emission factors from poultry farming and manure application in the base scenario "Coop" and the supplementary consideration "Mobile Coop".

15 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 14 Table 3-3: Summary of emissions from poultry farming Atmospheric N-Emissions Leaching Broiler (Chicken Manure: Base Scenario,31 kg N/AS*a) NH 3 N 2O NOx NO 3 Emissions in the Coop (9,75 % of the Excrement-Excretion in the Husbandry 9, corresponding to Storage and Output Husbandry 9 g NH 3 -N/kg N ausgeschieden 1 g N 2 O -N/kg N excreted + kg N bedding - - Storage 32 g NH 3 -N/kg N, corresponding to husbandry Output 15 g NH 3 -N/kg N, corresponding to storage 1 g N 2 O-N/kg N, corresponding to storage Emissions in the Mobile Coop (9,25 % of the Excretion outside of the husbandry) 8 12 g NOx-N/kg N, corresponding to storage 27 g NO 3 -N/kg N Husbandry 334 g NH 3 -N/kg N excreted 1 g N 2 O -N/kg N excreted 2-57 g NO 3 -N/kg N excreted Free Run 334 g NH 3 -N/kg N excreted 1 g N 2 O -N/kg N excreted 2-58 g NO 3 -N/kg N excreted Laying Hen (Chicken Manure: Base Scenario 1,16 kg N/AS*a) Emissions in the Coop (63 % of the Excrement-Excretion in the Husbandry) 8, corresponding to Storage and Output Husbandry 99 g NH 3 -N/kg N excreted 1 g N 2 O -N/kg N excreted + kg N bedding - - Storage 68 g NH 3 -N/kg N, corresponding to husbandry Output 15 g NH 3 -N/kg N, corresponding to storage 1 g N 2 O-N/kg N, corresponding to storage Emissions in the Mobile Coop (37 % of the Excretion outside of the husbandry 8 12 g NOx-N/kg N, corresponding to storage 27 g NO 3 -N/kg N Free Run 334 g NH 3 -N/kg N excreted 1 g NH 3 -N/kg N excreted - 65 g NH 3 -N/kg N excreted Husbandry (Basescenarios) (Basescenarios) 334 g NH 3 -N/kg N excreted 1 g N 2 O -N/kg N excreted - 65 g NO 3 -N/kg N excreted Free Run 334 g NH 3 -N/kg N excreted 1 g N 2 O -N/kg N excreted g NO 3 -N/kg N excreted AS = Animal Space

16 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 15 4 Results The environmental indicators considered in the present study and their comparative results are shown in Figure 4-1 to Fehler! Verweisquelle konnte nicht gefunden werden. for broiler husbandry and laying hens. Climate Change The climate change results are dominated by carbon dioxide (about 7 % carbon dioxide in the case of laying hens). The remaining greenhouse gas potential is largely attributable to nitrous oxide emissions. The carbon dioxide emissions during the cultivation phase are particularly associated with drying processes (here the alfalfa is clearly evident), with combustion emissions from the tractors, and with carbon dioxide released directly during spreading lime. Another source of carbon dioxide emissions is the provision of energy for the air conditioning, operation and lighting of the stables, as well as for the feed mixing costs in the feed mixing plant. Since these processes are relatively independent of variations in the feed mix, only a very low reduction potential is associated with DL-Methionine supplementation. Nitrous oxide emissions are the second major contributor to the greenhouse gas potential (approximately 25 % of greenhouse gases in the case of laying hens). These are mainly related to the application of chicken manure to the areas under cultivation of nitrogen-requiring feeds and the release of nitrous oxide from the excreta in the chicken-run. This nitrous oxide contribution to the greenhouse gas potential shows a direct dependence on supplementation with reduced amounts of nitrogen in excrements. As DL-Methionine supplementation increases, the potential nitrous oxide emissions visibly decrease. Aquatic Eutrophication The results regarding potential aquatic eutrophication are dominated by nitrate emissions into the water (over 85 % nitrate in the case of laying hens). The second major contribution is phosphate emissions into the water. Nitrate emissions are related to the nitrate-leaching potential of feed, as it was fertilized with chicken manure during cultivation, and potential nitrate leaching from excrements on the chicken-run. These nitrate leaching potentials show a direct dependence on the amount of nitrogen in the excrements. Accordingly, the potential nitrate leaching is expected to be smaller in the case of supplementation by the reduced nitrogen in the excrements or a reduced nitrogen fertilizer requirement. In the case of laying hens, the proportion of nitrate in the aquatic eutrophication effect for the.15 % DL-Methionine supplementation is therefore reduced to about 8 %. The phosphate emissions into the water originate, for instance, from soil erosion during the cultivation phase and are therefore relatively independent of DL-Methionine supplementation. Ozone Depletion The potential for stratospheric ozone degradation is dominated by nitrous oxide emissions. Most of these nitrous oxide emissions come from the cultivation phase of the feed, i.e. from the application of the chicken manure on

17 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 16 the fields, which require a nitrogen fertilizer. Additional nitrous oxide emissions come from the chicken-run, where nitrogen from the deposited excreta is released as nitrous oxide. Smaller contributions to nitrous oxide emissions are also recorded, for example, from the crop residues of grain legume cultivation. The two main sources of nitrous oxide emissions (cultivation of non-leguminous feed and faeces in the outlet) show a direct dependence on the amount of nitrogen in the excreta. Therefore, despite the slight increase in nitrous oxide emissions from pea production, in the case of supplementation, a significant decrease in the stratospheric ozone depletion potential can be observed. Terrestrial Eutrophication and Acidification The potential terrestrial eutrophication and acidification are dominated by ammonia emissions into the air (about 9 % in the case of laying hens). Specifically, these are the nitrogen losses during spreading and storage of the chicken manure, which are released mainly in the form of ammonia. In addition, there are corresponding ammonia emissions that are released directly from the excrement in the stable and in the chicken-run area. The nitrogen losses from the chicken manure or directly from the excrements are directly related to the amount of nitrogen that is present in the excrement. Since this is lower in the case of DL-Methionine supplementation, which corresponds to nitrogen-reduced feeding, less nitrogen is available for release in the form of ammonia. As expected, this goes along with an apparent reduction potentials of the environmental effects mentioned by a supplementation are cancelled out. Particulate Matter The potential emissions of particulate matter have a predominantly similar pattern as the other environmental indicators, such as terrestrial eutrophication and acidification. This is due to the fact that ammonia emissions as secondary particles also play an important role here. However, the contributions of ammonia emissions are slightly lower than in the environmental impact categories mentioned (these are around 75 % in the case of laying hens). The majority of the remainder also comes from secondary particulate matter in the form of sulfur and nitrogen oxides in the air. As a result, primary particles from agriculture/animal husbandry show only very small contributions. It should be noted, however, that the availability of data in terms of primary particle emissions and their size distribution in general is limited, but especially for organic farming. Nevertheless, the authors of the study rate the comparative results as reliable, since causality between the fieldwork and the respective particulate matter emissions is to be expected. The contribution of sulfur and nitrogen oxides, in contrast to ammonia emissions, is not directly dependent on the amount of nitrogen in excrement, so these contributions are essentially unchanged even in the case of DL-Methionine supplementation. The reduced ammonia emissions show a reduction potential in the supplementation. In the case of.15 % supplementation, the contribution of ammonia emissions to the total particulate matter potential for the laying hens is reduced to 7 %. Photo-Oxidant Formation The photo-oxidant formation expressed as maximum incremental reactivity (MIR) is characterized in particular by the non-methane content of the volatile organic compounds (NMVOC). These are related to the combustion processes in the tractor engine and the energy supply for drying processes. In addition, there is a contribution of formaldehyde from the combustion process in the tractor engine.

18 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 17 Since the amount of field work required within the feed mix variants is on a similar scale and the drying costs are similar, there is little potential for reduction in the case of DL-Methionine supplementation. Nitrate Nitrate emissions are related to the nitrate leaching potential of fertilized feed cultivation with chicken manure and potential nitrate leaching from excrements on the chicken-run. These nitrate leaching potentials show a direct dependence on the amount of nitrogen in the excrements. Accordingly, in the case of a DL-Methionine supplementation by the reduced nitrogen in the excrements or a reduced nitrogen fertilizer requirement, the potential nitrate leaching is smaller. Non-Renewable Cumulated Energy Demand (CED, non-renewable) The non-renewable cumulated energy demand (CED, non-renewable) during the cultivation phase is related to the fuel requirements of the fieldwork tractors. In addition, there are contributions from the transport of animal feed (also due to the associated fuel requirements), the provision of energy for the feed mixing plant and the provision of energy for air conditioning, lighting and the operation of the stables. In addition, there are contributions from the transport of animal feed (also due to the associated fuel requirements), the provision of energy for the feed mixing plant, and the provision of energy for air conditioning, lighting, and the operation of the stables. In this respect, there is a dependency on a DL-Methionine supplementation, provided that transport can be saved by supplementation. However, the other contributions remain rather unchanged in the case of supplementation, so the overall reduction potentials are rather small. Area and Renewable Cumulated Energy Demand (CED, renewable) The required cultivated areas are directly related to the amount of feed required in combination with the respective yields. Renewable energy demand also shows a corresponding dependency on the amount of feed required in combination with the specific renewable energy needs; therefore, both indicators show a similar pattern. Since the energy requirement also corresponds to that of the basic feed mixture in the supplemented feed mix variants, it is expected that if at all only very small reduction potentials result here from DL- Methionine supplementation.

19 Stratospheric Ozone Depletion g CFC-11-e per 1, kg broiler Aquatic Eutrophication kg PO e per 1, kg broiler Climate Change t CO 2 -e per 1, kg broiler ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 18 Results of the Broiler Base Scenario Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM MetAMINO Production Manure Storage Husbandry (Free Run) Husbandry (Coop) Transport Feed Mill to Barn Mineral Components Transport Feed Components Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Feed Mill Soybean + Sunflower Crop Processing other Crops Cultivation other Crops Cultivation Soybean + Sunflower Cultivation Pea Credit: Mineral N Surplus Net Results -5 Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Figure 4-1: Sectoral results of the broiler base scenario Indicators: Climate Change, Aquatic Eutrophication and Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

20 Photo-Oxidant Formation kg O 3 -e per 1, kg broiler Acidification kg SO 2 -e per 1, kg broiler Terrestrial Eutrophication kg PO e per 1, kg broiler ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM MetAMINO Production Manure Storage Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Husbandry (Free Run) Husbandry (Coop) Transport Feed Mill to Barn Mineral Components Transport Feed Components Feed Mill Soybean + Sunflower Crop Processing other Crops Cultivation other Crops Cultivation Soybean + Sunflower 1.8 Cultivation Pea 1.6 Credit: Mineral N Surplus Net Results Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Figure 4-2: Sectoral results of the broiler base scenario Indicators: Terrestrial Eutrophication, Acidification and Photo-Oxidant Formation

21 Land Use m 2 *a per 1, kg broiler Nitrate in Water Bodies kg NO 3 - per 1, kg broiler Particulate Matter kg PM2.5-e per 1, kg broiler ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM MetAMINO Production Manure Storage Husbandry (Free Run) 5 Husbandry (Coop) Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Transport Feed Mill to Barn Mineral Components Transport Feed Components Feed Mill Soybean + Sunflower Crop Processing other Crops Cultivation other Crops Cultivation Soybean + Sunflower Cultivation Pea Credit: Mineral N Surplus Net Results Figure 4-3: Sectoral results of the broiler base scenario Indicators: Particulate Matter, Nitrate in Water Bodies and Land Use

22 Cumulative Energy Demand (CED, in total) GJ per 1, kg broiler Cumulative Energy Demand (CED, renewable) GJ per 1, kg broiler Cumulative Energy Demand (CED, non-renewable) GJ per 1, kg broiler ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM MetAMINO Production Manure Storage Husbandry (Free Run) Husbandry (Coop) Transport Feed Mill to Barn Mineral Components Transport Feed Components Feed Mill Soybean + Sunflower 5-5 Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Crop Processing other Crops Cultivation other Crops Cultivation Soybean + Sunflower Cultivation Pea Credit: Mineral N Surplus Net Results Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Figure 4-4: Sectoral results of the broiler base scenario, Indicators: Cumulative Energy Demand (CED, non-renewable), Cumulative Energy Demand (CED, renewable) and Cumulative Energy Demand (CED, in total)

23 Stratospheric Ozone Depletion g CFC-11-e per 1, kg egg mass Aquatic Eutrophication kg PO e per 1, kg egg mass Climate Change t CO 2 -e per 1, kg egg mass ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 22 Results of the Laying Hen Base Scenario Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM MetAMINO Production Manure Storage Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Husbandry (Free Run) Husbandry (Coop) Transport Feed Mill to Barn Mineral Components Transport Feed Components Feed Mill Soybean + Sunflower Crop Processing other Crops Cultivation other Crops Cultivation Soybean + Sunflower 35 Cultivation Pea 3 Credit: Mineral N Surplus 25 Net Results Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Figure 4-5: Sectoral results of the laying hen base scenario Indicators: Climate Change, Aquatic Eutrophication and Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

24 Photo-Oxidant Formation kg O 3 -e per 1, kg egg mass Acidification kg SO 2 -e per 1, kg egg mass Terrestrial Eutrophication kg PO e per 1, kg egg mass ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM MetAMINO Production Manure Storage Husbandry (Free Run) Husbandry (Coop) Transport Feed Mill to Barn Mineral Components Transport Feed Components Feed Mill Soybean + Sunflower Crop Processing other Crops Cultivation other Crops Cultivation Soybean + Sunflower Cultivation Pea Credit: Mineral N Surplus Net Results Figure 4-6: Sectoral results of the laying hen base scenario Indicators: Terrestrial Eutrophication, Acidification and Photo-Oxidant Formation

25 Land Use m 2 *a per 1, kg egg mass Nitrate in Water Bodies kg NO 3 - per 1, kg egg mass Particulate Matter kg PM2.5-e per 1, kg egg mass ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM MetAMINO Production Manure Storage Husbandry (Free Run) Husbandry (Coop) Transport Feed Mill to Barn Mineral Components Transport Feed Components Feed Mill Soybean + Sunflower Crop Processing other Crops Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Cultivation other Crops Cultivation Soybean + Sunflower Cultivation Pea Credit: Mineral N Surplus Net Results Figure 4-7: Sectoral results of the laying hen base scenario Indicators: Particulate Matter, Nitrate in Water Bodies and Land Use

26 Cumulative Energy Demand (CED, in total) GJ per 1, kg egg mass Cumulative Energy Demand (CED, renewable) GJ per 1, kg egg mass Cumulative Energy Demand (CED, non-renewable) GJ per 1, kg egg mass ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM MetAMINO Production Manure Storage Husbandry (Free Run) Husbandry (Coop) 3 Transport Feed Mill to Barn Mineral Components Transport Feed Components 1 Feed Mill Soybean + Sunflower 5-5 Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Crop Processing other Crops Cultivation other Crops Cultivation Soybean + Sunflower 7 Cultivation Pea 6 Credit: Mineral N Surplus 5 Net Results Base.5 % DLM.1 % DLM.15 % DLM Figure 4-8: Sectoral results of the laying hen base scenario, Indicators: Cumulative Energy Demand (CED, non-renewable), Cumulative Energy Demand (CED, renewable) and Cumulative Energy Demand (CED, in total)

27 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 26 5 Conclusions Observations regarding Feed Mixture Comparing the basic feed mixtures for broilers (Table 2-1) and for laying hens (Table 2-2) with those of the various DL-Methionine supplementation stages, it can be stated that: the crude protein content decreases with increasing supplementation: by almost 2 % in the laying hens feed mix and by more than 1 % in the broiler feed mix the supplementation allows a reduction of sunflower cake in favor of "classical" domestic grain legumes in the feed mix, for the latter, peas were accounted for as representatives. Laying hen feed can also reduce the proportion of soy cake. less concentrated feed (less wheat in the broiler, less corn in the laying hens) is needed This can in turn contribute to the following positive effects: lower metabolic burden in chickens due lower crude protein intake increased natural nitrogen fertilization of soil and thus reduced need for manure within the organic farming system greater possibilities of variation in the crop rotation and thus improved agro-diversity Opportunities for more regional provision of protein feed The last point plays a role in connection with the overall relatively high import share of the organic feed used in Germany. While the current import share for the field pea is almost 5 %, the import share for the sunflower cake is even at around 9 %. In addition, the climatic conditions in Germany are more favorable for the cultivation of field pea than for the organic cultivation of sunflowers (TLL 26). Thus, a stronger regionalization of chicken feed seems to be an easier possibility. Also the soya cake import (with an import quota of 85 %), about a third of which comes from overseas regions, could potentially be reduced through feed mixes with DL-Methionine supplementation.

28 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 27 Environmental Impacts of the nitrogen compounds The ecological effects of increasing DL-Methionine supplementation of the basic feed mixture were analyzed using different impact categories. They are particularly evident in the problem areas characterized by the different nitrogen emissions: 1. Contributions of chicken husbandry to potential acidification, terrestrial eutrophication and particulate matter decrease by 2-3 % with increasing DL-Methionine supplementation. The reduction of NH3 emissions is particularly important here. 2. Similarly, contributions to potential aquatic eutrophication decrease by more than 2 % with increasing DL-Methionine supplementation. The reduction of nitrate emissions into water is particularly important here. 3. The contributions to the potential stratospheric ozone depletion decrease by more than 1 % with increasing DL-Methionine supplementation. The reduction of nitrous oxide emissions is particularly important here. The impact profiles for broiler fattening and laying hens are overall very similar. One major difference is the higher nitrogen excretion and increased use of the chicken-run by the laying hens compared to broilers. This leads to higher leaching of nitrate into the groundwater. The changes in the feed mixture that can be implemented in conjunction with DL-Methionine supplementation (less crude protein, higher proportion of native legumes) also have the potential to bring about a significant reduction in nitrogen-bearing environmental burdens. The considerably lower nitrate emissions in organic farming as compared to conventional farming could be reduced even further in this way. This potential for reduction would be relevant, for example, in the area close to the coop of the chicken-run, in particular in the case of husbandry in stables. Climate-related Environmental Effects The reduction of climate-relevant emissions due to supplementation with DL-Methionine is not as distinct as in the previously mentioned environmental impacts. Under the conditions of this study, the opinion of the authors is that the increase in feed pea content associated with the supplementation should be seen as a positive systemic effect. However, it should be pointed out that with other feed concepts, such an effect does not necessarily have to be visible or can be superimposed by data uncertainties. With regard to CO 2 emissions, important options of improvement may be found in the areas of field work (fuel requirements of tractors), transport distances through feed imports, domestic feed transport and energy requirements (i.e. energy efficiency) in the chicken coops.

29 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 28 Area of Action: Market The present study provides a good basis for discussions of feed concepts of organic chicken husbandry and its environmental impact. As previously mentioned, due to challenges regarding the supply of organic protein feed, conventional feed may be used transitionally. For example, corn gluten and/or potato protein are used (see Table 5-1). However, such feeds are also only available to a certain limit and are unfavorably costly. Table 5-1: Examples of feed mixtures for laying hens (first laying phase) with and without conventional feed fractions Sample Feed Mixture Wheat Maize Soybean Cake Sunflower Cake Green Meal Peas Maize Gluten Potato Protein Others (e.g. minerals) Example 1: [<1 % organic] 1 54 % - 1 % 1 % - 1 % 5 % - 1 % Example 2: [<1 % organic] 1 4 % 1 % - 2 % 5 % 1 % - 4 % 12 % Example 3: [1 % Organic ] 2 25 % 21 % 7 % 21 % 8 % 8 % % 1) Deerberg (24) 2) in this study estimated Feed Mixture for Laying Hens laying phase 1 (dark degradedly background: conventional amounts) The 1 % organic feed mixture used in the present study (see Table 5-) can be used without adding these conventional components, but requires more soybean or sunflower cake with similar use of "classic" local grain legumes. The crude protein content of both feed approaches is comparable. Solutions for reducing the protein feed requirement e.g. optimization of protein feed intake are therefore still needed. In addition, a feeding alternative with less protein cake amounts is interesting because the market price of the protein cake is determined by the demand. The estimated quantities of crude protein required for organic poultry farming in Germany in 211 are published in Früh et al. (215). In the following, an attempt is made to relate findings from the present study to this and to derive a possible reduction of excess protein feeds in organic poultry feeding in this way. For this purpose, a scenario is used for the example of the.15 % DLM feed mixtures, as they have a crude protein content reduction of approx. 19 % (for laying hens) and approx. 1 % (for broilers). If these numbers are linked to the crude protein requirement according to Früh et al. (215), this would result in a theoretical saving potential of more than 4 t of crude protein requirement, which would correspond to an average total saving of approx. 18 % (see also Table 5- ).

30 ifeu LCA of Organic Feed for Laying Hens and Broilers, taking into account an Increasing Supplementation with DL-Methionine 29 Table 5-2: Approximate calculation of the reduction of excess protein feeds by DL-Methionine supplementation Crude protein Reduction Potencial 2 Requirement 1 (with.15 % DLM-Supplementation) Crude protein Savings Laying Hen 277 t 19 % t Broiler 2575 t 1 % 258 t 1) Früh et al. (215) 2) this study DL-Methionine supplementation could thus contribute to a significant reduction of the " amino acid gap" in organic chicken feed under the conditions of 1 % organic feeding. Area of Action: Politics and Legislation Possible solutions for the limited supply conditions of animal husbandry with high-quality protein feed should also come from targeted policies. This raises the question of where specific political goals converge and where there are particular obstacles. Here, in particular, the future BMEL strategy of organic farming and the BMUB nitrogen strategy should be mentioned. According to BMUB (217), agriculture accounts for 63 % of the total emissions of reactive nitrogen in Germany. The main routes of delivery of reactive nitrogen compounds are ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions to the atmosphere, as well as nitrate inputs into ground and surface waters. Here, obviously those substances are addressed as being problematic whose discharge could be reduced by supplementation with DL-Methionine. The expansion of organic agriculture to 2 % of the agricultural area is mentioned as a measure to reduce nitrogen emissions (BMEL 217). The combination of an extension of organic chicken farming - and here the sufficient availability of high-quality organic protein feed would be important, in conjunction with measures to simultaneously reduce the specific nitrogen emissions of organic farming as demonstrated in the present study on the example of supplementation with DL-Methionine, could contribute to both strategies. While supplementation with DL-Methionine is widely used in conventional poultry farming, see e.g. Bellof and Weindl (213), this is currently not allowed in organic chicken farming, as it should only use natural raw materials if possible. This latter requirement is likely to continue in the upcoming revision of the EU Organic Regulation. The German Bioeconomy Council writes: ".....The measure of the addition of individual amino acids to the feed, which thus produce less environmentally sound than possible, is not yet used by the companies of organic farming..." (Bioeconomy Council 217). However, it should not be forgotten that organic agriculture is not only a purely technical-functional production system, but rather a concept guided by ideological convictions and which is bound to its fundamental principles. It should be noted that work is currently being done on the development of fermentative production methods of methionine. This would probably facilitate an opening towards supplementation. The ecological benefit of such a supplementation would then have to be proven, taking into account the environmental expenses for the fermentative production of methionine