Germany A methodology to quantify and evaluate environmental effects that is applicable for different types of farms has not yet been agreed on. The present paper suggests to use a list of indicators that characterize the impact of a particular farm on the environment.
Emphasis is put on the effects related to livestock.
Indicators that describe the pressure of a livestock husbandry system on the state of the environment were defined at farm level. With the aim of minimizing the expenses for data collection the book keepingsystem is used as an important data base. Data from conventionaland organic central German farms were collected and analysed to optimize the methodology. Herd averages are used alternatively to estimate barn nutrient flows. The manure management is analysed with respect to storage and distribution techniques in order to identify reasons for high nutrientlosses.