"Green feeds" in meat production: a preliminary study

Aim of this research is to analyse some pig breeding systems in NW Italy to verify the sustainability of livestock production systems, in relation to different feeding resources availability. In an investigation on 55 pigs bred using semi-extensive and intensive methods and fed the same diet, the feed conversion index was 5.67 vs 4.50 to obtain a final weight of 168 kg. The diet included 68.6% food grain (corn 52.5% and barley 16.1%) and the semi-extensively bred pigs consumed 26% more. In conclusion the questions were “Is it ethically justifiable to use food grains as feed to assure animal welfare, when many humans are still far from having met their own needs? The unsustainability of feed grain production, as a result of over exploitation of natural resources, will affect the food availability for future generations? Replacing food grains in animal production could help to resolve conflicting ethical obligations. The animal nutrition progress is supporting breeders in producing ethical animal foods. By adopting an “Ethical Index”, branding animal food, consumers could induce producers to change their policies to an ethical animal food production.