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Higher producing cows are more environmentally friendly

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin – Madison have found that not only are higher-producing dairy cows more profitable, they are more environmentally sound as well. Dr. Victor Cabrera says they used the Integrated Farm System Model to emulate a 100-cow dairy with 100 hectares (247 acres) in Southern Wisconsin from 1986 to 2010.

The study found that higher-producing cows utilize feed more efficiently because the amount of feed required for body maintenance is a smaller percentage of total feed intake. As a result, they produce less greenhouse gasses for each pound of milk they make.  The most efficient cows were the second and third lactation cows at the peak of their lactation curve.  Another factor is the calving interval, if a herd is at the optimum 12-month calving interval, fewer replacement animals are needed meaning less greenhouse gas production there as well.

Cabrera says they would like to expand the study to consider larger dairies and breeds other than Holsteins.

The study is published on-line in the April, 2015 edition of the Journal of Dairy Science and can be found here.

Cabrera talks about the study: