Optimization of Environmental and Economic Effects in Waste Treatment of Intensive Livestock Production: an Analysis Based on “Ecological- economic” Model

Livestock farming pollution is the main source of non-point source pollution in rural area of China. In practice, it’s important to determine the technical optimization to ameliorate waste treatment methods to improve the economic and ecological effects of the livestock production. The authors developed an integrated “ecological--economic” model to simulate the impact of waste management improvements on economic and environmental benefits for the case of a pilot pig farm. The simulation results revealed that the economic-environmental benefits of the livestock farm would be improved by reasonable returning the manure applied in cropland and using integrated waste treatment technologies. However, the lack of sufficient economic incentive posed difficulty in waste disposal and utilization for intensive livestock farms. It implies that technological and economic support policies should be implemented comprehensively on waste management to promote sustainable development of intensive livestock production in China.