Livestock's long shadow: environmental issues and options

This report aims to assess the full impact of the livestock sector on environmental problems, along with potential technical and policy approaches to mitigation. For communicators of pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR) information, useful background on the sector's point and non-point sources are provided. Section four of the report addresses livestocks role in water depletion and pollution, including nitrogen, phosphorus, total organic carbon and heavy metal use in feed. It also addresses contamination of aquatic environments by drug residues, heavy metal load in manures, pollution from pastures and arable land, and pesticides. Chapter six of the report looks at policy options for addressing environmental pressures points.