Evaluation of environmental management systems on swine farms

Abstract

Due to the environmental impacts caused by intensive swine farming and the economic importance and growth of this activity, this study evaluated environmental management practices on swine farms located in the state of São Paulo/Brazil. In order to accomplish this, exploratory interviews were conducted with the managers or owners of 37 randomly selected farms. The resulting data was then used to create a questionnaire that contained eight questions, and to also create an electronic database containing questions and answers. Weights, varying from 1 to 10 based upon their importance in preventing or mitigating environmental degradation, were assigned for each process carried out on the farm. The farms were then classified as satisfactory, satisfactory with restrictions and unsatisfactory, if their scores were greater than or equal to 70 points, between 51 and 69 points or lower than 51 points, respectively. The results showed that approximately 62% of the swine farms investigated were considered unsatisfactory, since their average score was 43.61. Approximately 11% and 27% were deemed satisfactory with restrictions and satisfactory, respectively, since their scores were 59.50 and 84.40. For items considered important, such as the use of biodigesters and compost, 51.35% used no biodigesters and 67.55% and 62.15%, respectively, used no compost or their practices were unsatisfactory. The need for incentive programs to improve swine waste management on farms in São Paulo State was therefore made evident.