Greenhouse gas emissions from enteric fermentation and manure on organic and conventional dairy farms—an analysis based on farm network data

Warnecke, Sylvia; Paulsen, Hans; Schulz, Franziska; Rahmann, Gerold

doi:10.1007/s13165-014-0080-4

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…In consequence, feeding strategies in organic animal production include a higher fraction of roughage compared to conventional systems, e.g. for dairy cows [ 188 , 189 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It should also be noted that several other factors influence the fatty acid composition in milk [ 193 ]. Specifically, the season (indoor vs. outdoor) has an impact on the feeding regime [ 188 ] and therefore on the omega-3 content of milk. However, the content of omega-3 fatty acids is higher in organic milk during both the outdoor and indoor seasons [ 189 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Human health implications of organic food and organic agriculture: a comprehensive review

et al. 2017

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This review summarises existing evidence on the impact of organic food on human health. It compares organic vs. conventional food production with respect to parameters important to human health and discusses the potential impact of organic management practices with an emphasis on EU conditions. Organic food consumption may reduce the risk of allergic disease and of overweight and obesity, but the evidence is not conclusive due to likely residual confounding, as consumers of organic food tend to have healthier lifestyles overall. However, animal experiments suggest that identically composed feed from organic or conventional production impacts in different ways on growth and development. In organic agriculture, the use of pesticides is restricted, while residues in conventional fruits and vegetables constitute the main source of human pesticide exposures. Epidemiological studies have reported adverse effects of certain pesticides on children’s cognitive development at current levels of exposure, but these data have so far not been applied in formal risk assessments of individual pesticides. Differences in the composition between organic and conventional crops are limited, such as a modestly higher content of phenolic compounds in organic fruit and vegetables, and likely also a lower content of cadmium in organic cereal crops. Organic dairy products, and perhaps also meats, have a higher content of omega-3 fatty acids compared to conventional products. However, these differences are likely of marginal nutritional significance. Of greater concern is the prevalent use of antibiotics in conventional animal production as a key driver of antibiotic resistance in society; antibiotic use is less intensive in organic production. Overall, this review emphasises several documented and likely human health benefits associated with organic food production, and application of such production methods is likely to be beneficial within conventional agriculture, e.g., in integrated pest management.

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“…In consequence, feeding strategies in organic animal production include a higher fraction of roughage compared to conventional systems, e.g. for dairy cows [ 188 , 189 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human health implications of organic food and organic agriculture: a comprehensive review

et al. 2017

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“…In this sense, [53] measured the GHGs from enteric fermentation and manure on organic and conventional dairy farms in Germany in order to assess the effect of different feeding practices. In general terms, lower emissions from enteric fermentation were found when feed quality and feed intake was increased (which normally means feedstuff, instead of pastures).…”

Section: Environmental Dimensionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic Livestock Farming — Challenges, Perspectives, and Strategies to Increase Its Contribution to the Agrifood System’s Sustainability — A Review

Escribano¹

2016

Organic Farming - A Promising Way of Food Production

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The livestock sector is of great importance for the sustainability of rural economies and many ecosystems; however, it also has a high environmental impact. Due to the growing demand for animal products, there is a need to design new livestock production systems that allow the combination of food security and sustainability. Within this context, organic livestock may be a useful strategy to achieve such a pivotal goal. However, there is a lack of studies that integrate the existing knowledge, specifically in organic livestock, and integrating the main aspects implied in its practice (its externalities and challenges). The present work aims to fill this knowledge gap, providing strategies and insights that will help stakeholders and policy makers to improve the sustainability of both the organic sector itself and that of the whole food system.

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“…On basis of farm level analyses, the product related global warming potential (GWP) of milk is farm individual (Warnecke et al, 2014) and highly impacted on by milk yield (Yan et al, 2013). E.g., milk yield is influenced by feeding, which again impacts on GWP by a response of soil organic carbon balances or by altered energy efficiency of feed production.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking animal welfare to sustainability indicators of farms

Warnecke

Paulsen

Schmid³

et al. 2015

Acta fytotechn zootechn

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In a German network of so-called pilot farms we determined the animal health and welfare status of dairy cows with the Welfare Quality® Assessment protocol for cattle. Based on the results, we developed scenarios for the farm model REPRO to investigate interactions and potential environmental trade-offs in dairy production when dairy cow health and welfare are improved. This study was done in winter 2013/2014 as a preliminary study with four farms (two organic and conventional, each) and served as learning tool for an ongoing project with a total of 40 farms. Animal welfare status on the four farms was categorised as enhanced or acceptable, showing that all of the farms have a potential for improving animal welfare. The changes in management derived for the scenarios were: An increase in concentrate feeding in farm A, where only low amounts of concentrates are originally used. In farm B pasture access for dry cows was introduced and parts of maize silage in the diet of the cows were replaced by grass-clover silage. In farm C dry cows and youngstock were introduced to pasture. In farm D a hypothetically improved health management resulted in increasing the productive lifetime by one year. The calculated product related global warming potential (GWP) of milk did not change on farm A. On farms B and D, the GWP per kg of energy corrected milk decreased by 3.9 % and 5 %, while it increased by 2.6 % on farm C. The changes in GWP could be attributed e.g. to changes in land use and associated soil organic carbon contents on and off farm (B, C) or to a reduced number of replacement heifers (D). For the four farms and four scenarios that were analysed in this pilot study, the improvement of the animal health and welfare status by changing farm management only slightly influenced the product related GWP of milk. However, interactions of parameters of health and welfare and management in dairy farms are known to be strong. Hence, further analyses beyond this pilot study are ongoing for 40 farms in the network to assess effects of improving animal health and welfare on environmental burdens and resource efficiency of milk production.

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Greenhouse gas emissions from enteric fermentation and manure on organic and conventional dairy farms—an analysis based on farm network data

Cited by 11 publications

References 7 publications

Human health implications of organic food and organic agriculture: a comprehensive review

Human health implications of organic food and organic agriculture: a comprehensive review

Organic Livestock Farming — Challenges, Perspectives, and Strategies to Increase Its Contribution to the Agrifood System’s Sustainability — A Review

Linking animal welfare to sustainability indicators of farms

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