Sustainability assessment of pig production: a study in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the sustainability practices of pig creation on rural properties in the West region of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The analysis included the system of sustainability indicators in pig farming. Although managers comply with the regulations and legislation, there are practical difficulties related to the destination of production waste, water use, expenditure controls, and social interaction. The sustainability analysis allowed investigating 30 properties and using a scale of 0-10 points, rate factors related to organizational, social, and environmental practices. Nine rural properties had a general performance, indicating characteristics of in search for sustainability, while 21 obtained a performance between 2.5 and 5.0 points, indicating fragilities in organizational, environmental, and social practices. It highlights the importance of analyzing sustainability indicators as a mechanism to control and implement better practices to assist in the search for sustainable development.