Sustainability assessment of local and crossbred chickens under low-input diets using life cycle analysis

This study assessed growth performance, diet digestibility, and environmental impacts in broiler chickens from different genotypes: commercial hybrids (Ross 308), two Italian local breeds (Bionda Piemontese, BP and Robusta Maculata, RM), and their crosses with Sasso T44 hens (BP×SA, RM×SA), fed either a standard (ST) or low-input (LI) diet. A total of 442 one-day-old chicks (102 Ross 308, 76 BP, 72 RM, 97 BP × SA, and 94 RM × SA) were allocated to 40 pens, with two replicates per group and monitored until the end of the rearing period (47 days for Ross 308, 105 days for local breeds and crosses). Life Cycle Assessment was conducted using 1 kg of live weight and 1 kg of ready-to-cook carcass as functional units. Ross 308 exhibited the highest final weight, daily weight gain, and feed conversion ratio, followed by crosses and local breeds. The LI diet resulted in reduced final weight (-13 %) and increased feed conversion ratio (+8 %) compared to ST diet, with commercial hybrids showed the greatest reduction in performance. The LI diet also reduced digestibility coefficients for dry matter, crude protein, and gross energy. Feed production was the dominant contributor to environmental impacts. Genotype influenced all impact categories, with Ross 308 showing the lowest values, while BP × SA and BP exhibited the highest ones. The LI diet reduced global warming potential with land use change (-46 %) but increased land occupation (+22 %) and water use (+26 %). In conclusion, a multifaceted approach is necessary for sustainable poultry production, balancing high yields to reduce environmental impact and adaptive traits that contribute to system resilience.