Reconstructing production efficiency, land use and trade for livestock systems in historical perspective. The case of France, 1961–2010

•Differential energy efficiency increase per livestock category from 1961 to 2010.•Livestock production went 53% up and land use 28% down in fifty years.•Drop by 20% of the share of pastures in total feed land in fifty years.•Gross virtual land trade is today about five times higher than the net land exports.