Dairy Cow Health and Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to identify the main influencing factors related to dairy cow health as it impacts the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions considering known data presented in the literature. For this study, we define the emission intensity as CO2 equivalents per kilogram of milk. In dairy cows, a high dry matter (DM) intake (25 kg/d) leads to an higher absolute methane emission compared to a lower DM intake (10 kg/d). However, the emission intensity is decreased at a high performance level. The emissions caused by DM intake to cover the energy requirement for maintenance are distributed over a higher milk yield. Therefore, the emission intensity per kilogram of product is decreased for high-yielding animals with a high DM intake. Apart from that, animal diseases as well as poor environmental or nutritional conditions are responsible for a decreased DM intake and a compromised performance. As a result, animal diseases not only mean reduced productivity, but also increased emission intensity. The productive life-span of a dairy cow is closely related to animal health, and the impact on emission intensity is enormous. A model calculation shows that cows with five to eight lactations could have a reduced emission intensity of up to 40% compared to animals that have left the herd after their first lactation. This supports the general efforts to increase longevity of dairy cows by an improved health management including all measures to prevent diseases.

Full adoption of the most effective strategies to mitigate methane emissions by ruminants can help meet the 1.5 °C target by 2030 but not 2050

“…These include breeding low-CH 4 –emitting animals and improving animal health. However, modeling studies have shown that strategies that improve animal health may significantly increase AP and reduce CH 4 I ( 24 ). In the subsequent section, the effects of mitigation strategies are reported in parenthesis as mean, 95% CI, and the number of treatment comparisons ( n ).…”

Strategies to mitigate enteric methane emissions by ruminants - a way to approach the 2.0°C target.

“…These include breeding low-CH4 emitting animals and improving animal health. Modeling studies have shown that strategies that improve animal health can significantly increase animal productivity and reduce emission intensity 16 . In the subsequent text, the effects of mitigation strategies on CH4 emissions and animal performance metrics are reported in parenthesis as mean, 95% confidence interval (CI), and number of treatment comparisons (n).…”

Improvement of mammary gland health in 81 ‘sentinel herds’ in England and Scotland between 2012 and 2021

“…With relevance to climate change, compromised yields exacerbate levels of greenhouse gas generation per litre of milk produced, 7 while reductions in clinical and subclinical mastitis would reduce CO 2 -equivalent emissions per cow and per kilogram of milk solids produced. 8,9 Therefore, reducing mastitis incidence in the national herd would benefit all stakeholders in the dairy industry and the public good.…”

“…Prevention of disease is an effective contributor to avoid antibiotic use, promoted by many national and international bodies, for example, the British Veterinary Association, the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance and the National Mastitis Council. With relevance to climate change, compromised yields exacerbate levels of greenhouse gas generation per litre of milk produced, 7 while reductions in clinical and subclinical mastitis would reduce CO 2 ‐equivalent emissions per cow and per kilogram of milk solids produced 8,9 . Therefore, reducing mastitis incidence in the national herd would benefit all stakeholders in the dairy industry and the public good.…”