LUDF Carbon Footprint
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was calculated for the cradle-to-farm-gate milk production at Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) for the 2018-19 season. This study was conducted by Andre Mazzetto of AgResearch. Emissions from the milking platform, wintering block and the grazing of replacements have been accounted for, as well as emissions from the production, transport and use of all farm inputs (including fertiliser, agrichemicals, brought in feeds, fuel and electricity).
Minor agri-chemicals such as treatments for intestinal parasites, mastitis and shed cleaning chemicals were not accounted for in the carbon footprint assessment but will have a negligible contribution.
During the 2018-19 season LUDF produced 285,670 kgMS, which is equivalent to 3,556,426 kg FPCM (‘Fat-Protein-Correct Milk’- standardized to 4% fat and 3.3% pure protein per kilogram). Milk production accounts for 88% of emissions, with the remaining 12% being allocated to meat. This equates to total greenhouse gas emissions of 2,765,194 kg CO2-eq from LUDF’s 2018-19 season. The carbon footprint for 1 kgMS of milk produced on LUDF is 8.52 kg CO2-eq and the carbon footprint for 1 kgLW of meat on LUDF is 4.6 kg CO2-eq, both of which are lower than the most recent published study in NZ for an average dairy farm (Figure 1). The main factors influencing this is the minimal use of imported feed and the pasture-based management of the farm.
The largest contributor to LUDF’s carbon footprint was the enteric fermentation associated with annual rumen digestion of feed, accounting for 73% of the total emissions. The second greatest sources of CO2 emissions were from pasture production and fertiliser (production and use), each accounting for 5% respectively of total emissions.
Table 1. Summary of LUDF’s Carbon Footprint
| Metric | Emissions |
|---|---|
|
1 kg MS LUDF
|
8.52 kg CO2-eq/kg MS
|
|
1 kg FPCM LUDF
|
0.68 kg CO2-eq/kg FPCM
|
|
1 kg FPCM NZ Dairy Average
|
0.78 kg CO2-eq/kg FPCM
|
|
1 kg FPCM Canterbury Dairy Average
|
0.76 kg CO2-eq/kg FPCM
|
|
Total 2018-19 emissions from milk
|
2,433,371 kg CO2-eq
|
|
Total 2018-19 emissions from meat
|
331,823 kg CO2-eq |
|
Total 2018-19 LUDF emissions
|
2,765,194 kg CO2-eq
|
Figure 1. Carbon Footprint of Milk and Meat
Table 2. Summary of annual milk production, and animal data for the 2018-19 season on LUDF
| Unit | LUDF | |
|---|---|---|
|
Milk Production
|
kg FPCM
|
3,555,426
|
|
Milk Production
|
kg MS
|
285,670
|
|
Milk fat concentration
|
% by kg
|
4.99
|
|
Milk protein concentration
|
% by kg
|
4.02
|
|
Milking cows
|
number
|
550
|
|
Surplus cattle sold
|
kg LW
|
72,160
|
|
Number of replacements (R1s)
|
Number
|
185
|
|
Number of replacements (R2s)
|
Number
|
158
|
|
Replacement Rate
|
%
|
25
|
|
Allocation to milk*
|
%
|
88
|
*based on relative feed requirements for milk production to milk plus meat
Table 3. Carbon footprint and percentage contribution from different sources to the carbon footprint of milk
| kg CO2-eq/kg FPCM | CO2-eq/kg MS | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Enteric CH4
|
0.5
|
6.23
|
73
|
|
CO2 from other activities
|
0.04
|
0.47
|
5
|
|
CO2 from fertiliser application and production
|
0.03
|
0.44
|
5
|
|
Urine, Dung and FDE N2O
|
0.03
|
0.38
|
4
|
|
Nitrogen fertiliser N2O
|
0.03
|
0.37
|
4
|
|
CO2 from fuel and electricity
|
0.03
|
0.34 |
4
|
|
Dung and FDE CH4 |
0.02
|
0.23
|
3
|
|
CO2 from supplementary feed production |
0.00
|
0.06 |
2
|
|
N2O from on farm crop residues
|
0.00 |
0.0
|
0
|
|
Total
|
0.68
|
8.52 |
100% |
|
FDE: Farm Dairying Effluent
|
|||
Table 4. Relative Contribution of each GHG to LUDF’s Carbon Footprint of milk
| Greenhouse Gas | Relative contributions | Carbon Emissions |
|---|---|---|
|
Carbon Dioxide CO2 |
9% |
219,003 kg CO2-eq |
|
Methane CH4 |
76% |
1,849,362 kg CO2-eq |
|
Nitrous Oxide N2O |
15% |
365,006 kg CO2-eq |
|
Total |
2,433,371 kg CO2-eq |
|
Table 5. Sources of each GHG from LUDF’s Carbon Footprint
| Gas | Source | LUDF |
|---|---|---|
|
CH4 |
Enteric fermentation |
96% |
|
|
Manure/FDE/dung |
4% |
|
N2O |
N fertiliser on pasture |
48%
|
|
|
Excreta on pasture
|
37%
|
|
|
Other
|
15%
|
|
CO2
|
Production of pasture*
|
32%
|
|
|
N fertiliser production
|
29%
|
|
|
Electricity
|
23%
|
|
|
Other*
|
16% |
|
* Includes wintering off and replacements area |
||
Figure 2. Cradle-to-farm-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) of milk production from the Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF), including the wintering of cows off farm and the grazing of replacement animals on a support block.
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