 Printer Friendly version  Plain text version |
Study: Biotechnology reduces carbon footprint of milk by 9 percent
A Cornell University study is the first science-based lifecycle assessment of U.S. milk production.
Dairy farmers have focused on preserving their natural resources to sustain their way of life for generations. Recently at the World Dairy Expo, dairy farmers - often overlooked as environmentalists - learned how biotechnology is maximizing their focus on resource conservation and making the dairy industry even greener.
Dr. Jude Capper, Cornell University post-doctoral research associate, presented three seminars for dairy producers and industry leaders interested in the environmental impact of the dairy industry at the international dairy show. The Monsanto-sponsored seminars were based on Cornell's study, "The Environmental Impact of rbST Use in Dairy Production," clearly demonstrating that rbST use reduces resource inputs and waste outputs from dairy farms. The environmental benefits from rbST have been noted in earlier studies and government reports, but the Cornell investigation is the first science-based lifecycle assessment of U.S. milk production.
According to the research, 10 more pounds of milk per cow reduce the carbon footprint of a gallon of milk by 9 percent annually. If just 15 percent of the U.S. dairy herd - about 1 million cows-produced an average of 10 more pounds of milk per cow per day, the savings in land, water, feed and fuel are substantial. Plus nutrient waste and methane emission are reduced. According to the Cornell research, 1 million cows making 10 more pounds per cow has the following impact:
• Less land: Decreases the need for farmland to grow crops by 540,000 acres;
• Less water: Saves water needed for milk production by 1.4 billion gallons;
• Less feed: Reduces feed for the animals by 2.5 million tons;
• Less Fuel: Lowers the need for gas and diesel by 4.3 million gallons;
• Less manure: Reduces manure generated from the animals by 2.8 million tons;
• Less gases: Lowers total greenhouse gas emissions by 1.9 million metric tons.
The research also demonstrated that 1 million cows producing 10 more pounds of milk per day saves enough electricity to power 15,000 households; generates enough heat for 16,000 households; and saves enough water to supply 10,000 households. The reduction in the carbon footprint is equivalent to removing 400,000 cars from the road or planting 300 million trees.
Capper also noted the benefit from even a single small dairy farm. A 150-cow dairy producing 10 more pounds of milk per cow would be equivalent to removing 38 cars from the road or planting 28,000 trees. The 150-cow dairy would need 245 fewer tons of feed and 53 fewer acres of farmland, as well as produce 450 fewer tons of manure.
"The term 'dilution of maintenance' is the important concept to understand," Capper said. "The volume of additional milk produced with rbST dilutes the 'fixed costs' associated with feeding and caring for a dairy animal (maintenance), allowing us to produce the same amount of milk with fewer cows, which generates environmental benefits."
Cornell's study demonstrates that conventional dairying with rbST has the least environmental impact when compared to conventional and organic dairies. Using the conventional dairy production as the baseline, dairies using rbST required 8 percent fewer cows, and organic dairies needed 25 percent more cows to produce the same amount of milk.
"These changes in herd size have direct effects on both resource use and greenhouse gas emissions," Capper said. "Conservation is all about producing sufficient milk from fewer resources. Any production practice or technology that enables us to produce the same amount of milk using fewer animals, land, water or fossil fuels is going to have environmental benefits."
"While it's been known for more than 15 years that rbST increases the production efficiency of dairy cows,our research clearly demonstrates the far-reaching benefits the dairy industry is contributing to environmental stewardship," Capper said.
Capper is the lead author of the Cornell-funded study and other contributors include: Dale Bauman, project director and Cornell Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor; Euridice Castaneda-Gutierrez, former Cornell post-doctoral researcher; and Roger Cady, Monsanto technical project manager for Posilac.
| Printer Friendly version Plain text version |
