Transforming the feeding regime towards low-input increases the environmental impact of organic milk production on a case study farm in central germany
Compares the environmental impacts of feeding regimes in organic milk production, indicating significant findings for sustainability.
Key Points
This research aims to investigate the environmental effects of feeding regimes in organic dairy farming, focusing on low-input versus high-input systems.
Conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) from cradle-to-farm gate perspective.
Compared environmental impacts across five categories: global warming, non-renewable energy use, land use, terrestrial acidification, and freshwater eutrophication.
Used agronomic data from the Gladbacherhof farm from 2010-2017, combined with ecoinvent data where necessary.
Grassland-based low-input systems show higher environmental impacts compared to high-input systems across all five impact categories.
A 50% reduction in concentrates led to a 20% decrease in milk yield.
Higher emissions from enteric fermentation and manure management were associated with the low-input system, contributing particularly to increased global warming and terrestrial acidification.