Environmental assessment and mitigation strategies for dairy cattle farms in Colombia: Greenhouse gas emissions, non-renewable energy use, and land use

Abstract

In Colombia, cattle farming is responsible for 15 % of national greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), consequently, it is crucial to develop mitigation strategies that can reduce their climate impact. Using a Life Cycle Assessment approach, this study quantified the environmental burdens of 192 specialized dairy systems and determined mitigation strategies. Carbon footprint (CF), land use, and non-renewable energy use were calculated by applying the 2019 Refinement to 2006 IPCC guidelines and impact factors. The functional units considered were one kilogram of fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM) and one kilogram of live weight gain (LWG) from a cradle-to-farm-gate perspective. The findings revealed that enteric fermentation and manure left in pastures were the primary sources of on-farm GHGE, while feed manufacturing contributed significantly to off-farm emissions. Milk CF values ranged between 0.6 to 3.9 kg CO₂-eq kg FPCM⁻¹ when the biological allocation method was applied. Through clustering analysis, three farm clusters were identified, with Cluster 1 demonstrating higher milk productivity, better paddock and cattle manageability, and improved environmental behavior compared to the other clusters. The adoption of improved pastures as a mitigation strategy resulted in a significant reduction of milk CF by 20 % to 39 %. This study provides evidence supporting the effectiveness of mitigation strategies such as the inclusion of improved pastures, adoption of good cattle management practices, improvements in fertilizer usage, identification of an adequate stocking rate, and enhancement of milk yields in dairy production systems. These reductions in GHGE intensities can be achieved with a negative economic cost, highlighting the potential for sustainable and economically viable cattle farming practices.