Managing livestock farm size to reduce nitrogen loss in China

Cheng, L., Zhang, X. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1961-3339, Zhu, Z., Ren, C., Wang, C., Reis, S., & Gu, B. (2026). Managing livestock farm size to reduce nitrogen loss in China. Resources, Environment and Sustainability 25 e100330. 10.1016/j.resenv.2026.100330.

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Abstract

The livestock farm size influences management strategies, affecting nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and nitrogen losses. Using data from 360,000 farms across China in 2017, covering four major livestock types, the relationship between NUE, nitrogen losses, and farm size is examined. Results show that NUE increases and nitrogen loss intensity decreases as farm size grows for all livestock types, despite manure recycling ratios differ among livestock types, underscoring the need for tailored strategies to manage farm size. Managing farm size for only 16% of intensive farms nationwide could reduce nitrogen losses by 121 Gg (1 Gg = 109 g), increase production by 21 Gg, and enhance manure recycling by 100 Gg. This strategy would yield a 24% reduction in nitrogen losses, a 9% increase in livestock production, and a 40% rise in manure recycling in smaller-size farming regions, highlighting the critical role of livestock farm size in achieving significant environmental and food security benefits.

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