Estimation of livestock pressure on the environment

Istat has used a time-series analysis (from 2002 to 2008) of agro-ecosystems in Italy to derive an indicator of the environmental pressure exerted by livestock.

This indicator describes the territory's overall livestock pressure on the environment, particularly in terms of its potential impact on soil and water quality, by using a weighted standardization to calculate livestock density and generate an expression of livestock burden in terms of Livestock Units (LU). This type of unit is obtained by applying a system of weighted coefficients in order to convert the consistencies measured for different livestock species, which are surveyed annually, into values that are homogeneous and comparable over time.

The monitoring of livestock burden and its evolution over time at national and regional levels, in combination with other agro-environmental indicators generated by Istat, provides an additional interpretative key for helping to understand the complex interrelationship of agriculture and the environment.

Over the years, the National Institute of Statistics has been reviewing and making substantial new contributions to our knowledge base concerning agriculture and the environment. Istat recently presented other indicators on primary issues of agro-environmental interest in its survey on the Structure and output of agricultural holdings (in Italian language), which examines the 1 November 2006-31 October 2007 farm year.