Greenhouse gas emissions of an autochthonous Greek cattle breed under extensive mountain grazing: farm, meat, and product-level insights

Abstract

Global demand for animal-derived foods, particularly beef, continues to rise, intensifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and accelerating climate change. Robust carbon footprint assessments at system and product levels are therefore critical, especially in organic and extensive livestock systems that simultaneously contribute to biodiversity conservation. In this study, we quantified GHG emissions from an organic, extensive Brachycheros cattle farm and its associated beef products using a Tier 2 life cycle assessment (LCA) and a cradle-to-gate boundary. Total farm-level emissions were estimated at 325,821 kg CO₂-eq, with enteric methane representing the predominant source. Beef emissions’ intensity reached 98.29 kg CO₂-eq per kilogram of produced meat, reflecting the lower carcass yields of locally adapted breeds under extensive systems. Product-level emissions were calculated at 20.19 kg CO₂-eq and 24.80 kg CO₂-eq when applying literature-based and study-specific beef intensity values, respectively. Overall, the findings underscored the strong influence of production system characteristics and indigenous breed performance on carbon footprints, highlighting the importance of farm-specific GHG assessments in traditional livestock systems.

Keywords

carbon footprint / life cycle analysis / indigenous breeds / Greek Brachycheros breed / GHG emissions / meat products

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