Air Quality, Greenhouse Gases, and Dairy

What is the origin of GHG on dairy operations?

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is emitted from a number of natural- and mechanical processes:

• Respiration of all living organisms – in the soil, plants and animals

• Combustion of gasoline, diesel, and other fossil fuels used to power farm machinery

• Microorganisms in manure

Methane (CH₄) is emitted from:

• Enteric fermentation in ruminants which occurs as feed is digested

• Microorganisms in manure

• Manure deposited in grazing pastures

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is emitted from:

• Nitrification and denitrification processes that occur during crop growth and in soil

• Barn floor, especially in bedded pack systems

• Crust formed on top of stored manure
  
  

How can a dairy reduce its carbon footprint?

The carbon footprint of a farm is the net sum of all GHG emitted in CO2 equivalents. Strategies to reduce a farm’s carbon footprint are:

• Increase production per animal

• Feed more grain and less forage

• Haul manure off-site daily, eliminating storage

• Cover the manure storage facilities and flare the CH₄ to convert it to CO₂

• Install an aerobic digester to create biogas and electricity to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels

• Practice reduced tillage and convert cropland to perennial grasslands to sequester carbon.