Logistics and CO2e emissions from beef cattle transportation in Brazil between 2018 and 2020

TL;DR

This study analyzed beef cattle transport logistics in Brazil from 2018 to 2020, finding significant CO2 emissions that vary by truck type and region, suggesting opportunities for reducing emissions through better planning and modernization.

Contribution

The study provides detailed CO2e emission data for beef cattle transport in Brazil, revealing inefficiencies and regional disparities that can inform climate and logistics policies.

Findings

Small trucks transporting up to 18 animals had the highest CO2e emissions per animal and carcass weight.

Trailer54 trucks showed the highest transport efficiency with lower median emissions per carcass ton.

Emission intensities varied significantly between and within Brazilian states, with Rondônia having the highest median emissions per animal.

Abstract

This study analysed the logistics of beef cattle transportation in Brazil from 2018 to 2020, based on 288,267 freight orders involving over 19 million animals from 42,805 farms and 38 slaughterhouses in ten states. The analysis included vehicle categorization, travel distances, carcass weights, available space per animal, and CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions, which amounted to approximately 87,000 tonnes across 244,394 valid records. We hypothesized that emissions would vary substantially by truck class and transport conditions. Given that the median one-way transport distance was 160 km, all emission estimates were calculated for a 320 km round trip to reflect the full journey. Small trucks (up to 18 animals) were the most frequently used but also the least efficient; emissions for this class reached a median of 56.89 kg per ton of carcass and 13.99 kg per animal, with 75th percentiles as high as 98 kg/ton. In contrast, the Trailer54 class showed the highest efficiency, with a median of 37.77 kg/ton of carcass (IQR: 20.5–62.5). Across all classes, the wide gaps between the 25th and 75th percentiles point to substantial room for optimization. Emission intensity also varied between and within states, with median values per animal ranging from 8.74 kg in Minas Gerais to 17.31 kg in Rondônia. Intra-state variability was also considerable, as indicated by the wide interquartile ranges. Although emissions from livestock transport represent a small fraction of Brazil’s total GHG inventory, their spatial variability and operational inefficiencies make them strategically relevant for climate and logistics policy. These findings underscore the importance of region-specific strategies, fleet modernization, and improved logistical planning to support low-carbon beef supply chains.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-21931-5.

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