Author(s): PAULA, V. R. de; CARVALHO, B. C. de; TOMICH, T. R.; BENHAMI, V. L. M.; MOREIRA, E. de A.; SILVA, D. V. da; SILVA, D. A. L.; MIRANDA, T. S.; PEREIRA, L. G. R.

Summary: Livestock production faces the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions without compromising productivity. Brazil has the third-largest milk production in the world; however, animal productivity is low, with around 2600 kg milk/cow/year (Andrade et al., 2023). The country's climate regions and social and economic diversity influence the environmental impact of dairy production in Brazil. Despite this, it is necessary to improve milk production efficiency, such as increasing individual productivity and optimizing herd composition by increasing the proportion of dairy cows. The construction of environmental metrics for milk production is the way to identify strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of milk. The estimate of a milk's carbon footprint is complex because it relates a large amount of direct and indirect data associated with the product system. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a standardized and internationally recognized method that supports science-based decision-making and the development of strategies to reduce environmental impact (IDF, 2022). This study aimed to estimate the carbon footprint of milk from farms in southeastern and southern Brazil and to evaluate strategies focused on enteric CH4 mitigation.

Publication year: 2024

Types of publication: Paper in annals and proceedings

Unit: Embrapa Dairy Cattle

Keywords: Bovino, Efeito Estufa, Gás, Impacto Ambiental, Pegada de carbono, Produção Leiteira