Evaluating eco-efficiency in suckler beef production in Northern Spain: A combined environmental and economic approach

Livestock products, particularly beef, play a key role in global food security and rural economic development, but they are also associated with substantial environmental impacts. In this context, understanding the relationship between environmental performance and economic outcomes at the farm level is essential to support sustainable management decisions. Previous studies have predominantly focused on environmental aspects, with limited attention given to the application of eco-efficiency frameworks that integrate environmental and economic dimensions at the farm scale. To address this gap, this study applies an integrated Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) approach to evaluate the eco-efficiency of suckler beef production systems in Northern Spain. Environmental impacts were assessed using a cradle-to-farm-gate approach, considering global warming potential, eutrophication, terrestrial acidification, land use and photochemical ozone formation, while economic performance was evaluated through value added indicators. Several alternative production scenarios were explored, focusing on dietary reformulation, emission mitigation measures, and manure management strategies. The results show that animal-related emissions, particularly enteric methane and manure management, are the main drivers of climate change impacts. Among the evaluated alternatives, increasing the forage-to-concentrate ratio and implementing composting prior to manure application consistently reduced environmental impacts while maintaining or improving economic performance, leading to the highest eco-efficiency scores. Overall, the proposed eco-efficiency framework provides a useful decision-support tool for farmers and policymakers and can be transferred to other regions and agri-food systems to promote more sustainable food production. • Integrated LCA and LCC assess the eco-efficiency of suckler beef production systems. • Scenario analysis identifies farm-level strategies with the highest eco-efficiency. • Higher forage ratios and composted manure reduce impacts and improve economic returns. • The eco-efficiency framework supports practical and sustainable farm-level decisions.