Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The effect of local climate and soil drainage on the environmental impact of grass-based milk production

  • LCA FOR AGRICULTURE
  • Published:
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

System modelling and life cycle assessment (LCA) were used to assess the climate change, acidification and eutrophication impacts of milk production using spring calving pasture-based system. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of climate and soil resources on the environmental impact per unit milk produced at the farm gate from low-cost, grass-based rotational-grazing dairy production.

Methods

A dairy system model, Dairy_sim, designed to identify optimum grass-based spring calving production systems considering the interaction between climate and soil resources was tested using the Irish National Dairy Blueprint and then used to assess regional differences of system management with well, moderately, mixed moderately-poorly and poorly drained soil resources available. Life cycle assessment was used to quantify environmental impacts of climate and soil drainage status. The Dairy_sim output was used as activity data for the LCA model.

Results and discussion

Differences were found in the management tactics influenced by climate and drainage resource. The impact of poor drainage reduced stocking rate, increased housing time and had greater need for later cut silage and more reliance on silage. Climate change, acidification and eutrophication impacts were greater for optimum management on poorly drained soil. The climate change ranged from 1.06 kg CO2 eq./kg (well drained) to 1.18 kg CO2 eq./kg (poorly drained) of energy corrected milk (ECM). The acidification and eutrophication ranged from 3.87 to 6.85 g SO2 eq./kg ECM and 2.69 to 3.64 g PO4 eq./kg ECM, respectively. Around 50% of poorly drained soil resource can be easily accommodated in dairy systems with little increase in environmental impact, where poor drained portion is utilised for silage.

Conclusions

LCA combined with a system optimization model revealed how dairy farm management practises constrained by poor land resource increased the environmental impact per unit product.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexandratos N, Bruinsma J (2012) World agriculture towards 2030/2050: the 2012 revision, vol 3. Agriculture Development Economics Division, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Basset-Mens C, Kelliher FM, Ledgard S, Cox N (2009) Uncertainty of global warming potential for milk production on a New Zealand farm and implications for decision making. Int J Life Cycle Assess 14(7):630–638

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belflower JB, Bernard JK, Gattie DK, Hancock DW, Risse LM, Alan RC (2012) A case study of the potential environmental impacts of different dairy production systems in Georgia. Agric Syst 108:84–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beukes PC, Palliser CC, Macdonald KA, Lancaster JAS, Levy G, Thorrold BS, Wastney ME (2008) Evaluation of a whole-farm model for pasture-based dairy systems. J Dairy Sci 91(6):2353–2360

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beukes PC, Gregorini P, Romera AJ, Levy G, Waghorn GC (2010) Improving production efficiency as a strategy to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions on pastoral dairy farms in New Zealand. Agric Ecosyst Environ 136(3–4):358–365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bywater AC, Cacho OJ (1994) Use of simulation models in research. vol 54. Proceedings of the New Zealand society of animal production

  • Casey JW, Holden NM (2005a) The relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and the intensity of milk production in Ireland. J Environ Qual 34(2):429–436

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Casey JW, Holden NM (2005b) Analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from the average Irish milk production system. Agric Syst 86(1):97–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CCMA (2015) Brown book: how do I manage waterlogging. Corangamite Catchment Management Authority. http://www.ccmaknowledgebase.vic.gov.au/brown_book/05_Waterlogging.htm. Accessed 17 June 2016

  • Chadwick DR, Pain BF, Brookman SKE (2000) Nitrous oxide and methane emissions following application of animal manures to grassland. J Environ Qual 29(1):277–287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chadwick D, Sommer S, Thorman R, Fangueiro D, Cardenas L, Amon B, Misselbrook T (2011) Manure management: implications for greenhouse gas emissions. Anim Feed Sci Tech 166–167:514–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen W, White E, Holden NM (2016) The effect of lameness on the environmental performance of milk production by rotational grazing. J Environ Manag 172:143–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chobtang J, Ledgard SF, SJ ML, Zonderland TM, Donaghy DJ (2016) Appraisal of environmental profiles of pasture-based milk production: a case study of dairy farms in the Waikato region, New Zealand. Int J Life Cycle Ass 21(3):311–325

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coyle C, Creamer RE, Schulte RPO, O'Sullivan L, Jordan P (2016) A functional land management conceptual framework under soil drainage and land use scenarios. Environ Sci Pol 56:39–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DAFF (2010) Food Harvest 2020: a vision for Irish agri-food and fisheries. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Dublin

    Google Scholar 

  • DAFM (2015) Food Wise 2025: a 10-year vision for the Irish agri-food industry. Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Dublin

    Google Scholar 

  • Dartt BA, Lloyd JW, Radke BR, Black JR, Kaneene JB (1999) A comparison of profitability and economic efficiencies between management-intensive grazing and conventionally managed dairies in Michigan. J Dairy Sci 82(11):2412–2420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Klein CAM, Eckard RJ (2008) Targeted technologies for nitrous oxide abatement from animal agriculture. Aust J Exp Agr 48(2):14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Del Prado A, Misselbrook T, Chadwick D, Hopkins A, Dewhurst RJ, Davison P, Butler A, Schroder J, Scholefield D (2011) SIMSDAIRY: a modelling framework to identify sustainable dairy farms in the UK. Framework description and test for organic systems and N fertiliser optimisation. Sci Total Environ 409(19):3993–4009

  • Dillon P, Shalloo L, Wallace M, Butler AM (2005) Integrated modelling of dairy production systems under technical, environmental and economic scenarios. Teagasc, Dairy Production Reasearch Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy

  • Drewry JJ, Paton RJ (2000) Effects of cattle treading and natural amelioration on soil physical properties and pasture under dairy farming in Southland, New Zealand. New Zeal J Agr Res 43(3):377–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dueri S, Calanca PL, Fuhrer J (2007) Climate change affects farm nitrogen loss—a Swiss case study with a dynamic farm model. Agric Syst 93(1–3):191–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy P, Hyde B, Hanley E, Dore C (2011) Ireland informative inventory report 2011. Air pollutant emissions in Ireland 1990–2009 reported to the secretariat of the UN/ECE on long range transboundary air pollution. Environmental Protection Agency, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford, Ireland

  • Duffy P, Hanley E, Hyde B, O'Brien P, Ponzi J, Cotter E, Black K (2014) Ireland’s national inventory report 2014. Greenhouse gas emissions 1990–2012 reported to the United Nations framework convention on climate change. Environmental Protection Agency, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford, Ireland

  • Earl R (1997) Prediction of trafficability and workability from soil moisture deficit. Soil Till Res 40(3–4):155–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ecoinvent version 3.1 database. (2014) The Swiss centre for life cycle inventories. http://www.ecoinvent.org/

  • Eisler M et al (2014) Agriculture: steps to sustainable livestock. Nature 507(7490):32–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EU (2014) Statutory instruments. S.I. No. 31 of 2010 European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) regulations 2014. Dublin

  • FAO (2009) The state of food and agriculture: livestock in balance. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald JB, Brereton AJ, Holden NM (2005) Assessment of regional variation in climate on the management of dairy cow systems in Ireland using a simulation model. Grass Forage Sci 60(3):283–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald JB, Brereton AJ, Holden NM (2008) Simulation of the influence of poor soil drainage on grass-based dairy production systems in Ireland. Grass Forage Sci 63(3):380–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald JB, Brereton AJ, Holden NM (2009) Assessment of the adaptation potential of grass-based dairy systems to climate change in Ireland—the maximised production scenario. Agric For Meteorol 149(2):244–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flysjö A, Henriksson M, Cederberg C, Ledgard S, Englund J (2011) The impact of various parameters on the carbon footprint of milk production in New Zealand and Sweden. Agric Syst 104(6):459–469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerci M, Knudsen MT, Bava L, Zucali M, Schönbach P, Kristensen T (2013) Parameters affecting the environmental impact of a range of dairy farming systems in Denmark, Germany and Italy. J Clean Prod 54:133–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hans Grinsven JM, Erisman JW, Vries W, Westhoek H (2015) Potential of extensification of European agriculture for a more sustainable food system, focusing on nitrogen. Environ Res Lett 10(2):025002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hennessy T, Moran B, Kinsella A, Quinlan G (2013) National farm survey 2012. Teagasc Agricultural Economics and Farm Survey Deparment, Athenry

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbin T, Hennessy D, Richards KG, Piwowarczyk A, Murphy JJ, Holden NM (2011) The effects of dairy cow weight on selected soil physical properties indicative of compaction. Soil Use Manage 27(1):36–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holden NM, Brereton AJ (2002) An assessment of the potential impact of climate change on grass yield in Ireland over the next 100 years. Irish J Agr Food Res 41(2):213–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden NM, Brereton AJ (2004) Definition of agroclimatic regions in Ireland using hydro-thermal and crop yield data. Agric For Meteorol 122(3–4):175–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houlbrooke DJ, Drewry JJ, Monaghan RM, Paton RJ, Smith LC, Littlejohn RP (2009) Grazing strategies to protect soil physical properties and maximise pasture yield on a Southland dairy farm. New Zeal J Agr Res 52(3):323–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys J (2008) Nutrient issues on Irish farms and solutions to lower losses. Int J Dairy Technol 61(1):36–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys J, O’Connell K, Casey IA (2008) Nitrogen flows and balances in four grassland-based systems of dairy production on a clay-loam soil in a moist temperate climate. Grass Forage Sci 63(4):467–480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hyde BP, Carton OT, O’Toole P, Misselbrook TH (2003) A new inventory of ammonia emissions from Irish agriculture. Atmos Environ 37(1):55–62

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2006) IPCC guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, vol 4. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Hayama

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuoppala K, Rinne M, Nousiainen J, Huhtanen P (2008) The effect of cutting time of grass silage in primary growth and regrowth and the interactions between silage quality and concentrate level on milk production of dairy cows. Livest Sci 116(1–3):171–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leip A, Weiss F, Wassenaar T, Perez I, Fellmann T, Loudjani P, Tubiello F, Grandgirard D, Monni S, Biala K (2010) Evaluation of the livestock sector's contribution to the EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GGELS) e final report. European Commission, Joint Research Center, Ispra

  • Lovett DK, Shalloo L, Dillon P, O'Mara FP (2008) Greenhouse gas emissions from pastoral based dairying systems: the effect of uncertainty and management change under two contrasting production systems. Livest Sci 116(1–3):260–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy S, Horan B, Dillon P, O’Connor P, Rath M, Shalloo L (2007) Economic comparison of divergent strains of Holstein-Friesian cows in various pasture-based production systems. J Dairy Sci 90(3):1493–1505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McDowell RW (ed) (2008) Environmental impacts of pasture-based farming. CAB International, Wallingford

  • McMichael AJ, Powles JW, Butler CD, Uauy R (2007) Food, livestock production, energy, climate change, and health. Lancet 370(9594):1253–1263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monteny GJ, Erisman JW (1998) Ammonia emission from dairy cow buildings: a review of measurement techniques, influencing factors and possibilities for reduction. Neth J Agr Sci 46(3):225–247

    Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen TTH, Corson MS, Doreau M, Eugène M, van der Werf HMG (2013) Consequential LCA of switching from maize silage-based to grass-based dairy systems. Int J Life Cycle Ass 18(8):1470–1484

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien D, Shalloo L, Grainger C, Buckley F, Horan B, Wallace M (2010) The influence of strain of Holstein-Friesian cow and feeding system on greenhouse gas emissions from pastoral dairy farms. J Dairy Sci 93(7):3390–3402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien D, Shalloo L, Patton J, Buckley F, Grainger C, Wallace M (2012) A life cycle assessment of seasonal grass-based and confinement dairy farms. Agric Syst 107:33–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien D, Brennan P, Humphreys J, Ruane E, Shalloo L (2014a) An appraisal of carbon footprint of milk from commercial grass-based dairy farms in Ireland according to a certified life cycle assessment methodology. Int J Life Cycle Ass 19(8):1469–1481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien D, Capper JL, Garnsworthy PC, Grainger C, Shalloo L (2014b) A case study of the carbon footprint of milk from high-performing confinement and grass-based dairy farms. J Dairy Sci 97(3):1835

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Donovan M (2000) The relationship between the performance of dairy cows and grassland management on intensive dairy farms in Ireland. PhD Thesis. University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

  • O’Mara F (2006) Climate change–development of emission factors for the Irish cattle herd. Environmental Protection Agency, Co. Wexford

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD/FAO (2013) Dairy. In: OECD-FAO Agriculture Outlook 2013. OECD Publishing, Rome

  • O’Loughlin J, Tuohy P, Mahar J, Courtney G, Dillion P, Humphreys J (2012) Teagasc heavy soils dairy programme review. https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/crops/grassland/heavy-soils/Update_on_HeavySoilsProgramme_for_2012.pdf. Accessed 20 December 2016

  • Pihlatie M, Syväsalo E, Simojoki A, Esala M, Regina K (2004) Contribution of nitrification and denitrification to N2O production in peat, clay and loamy sand soils under different soil moisture conditions. Nutr Cycl Agroecosys 70:135–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schulte RPO, Diamond J, Finkele K, Holden NM, Brereton AJ (2005) Predicting the soil moisture conditions of Irish grasslands. Irish J Agr Food Res 44(1):95–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulte RPO, Fealy R, Creamer RE, Towers W, Harty T, Jones RJA (2012) A review of the role of excess soil moisture conditions in constraining farm practices under Atlantic conditions. Soil Use Manage 28(4):580–589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulte RPO, Simo I, Creamer RE, Holden NM (2015) A note on the hybrid soil moisture deficit model v2.0. Irish J Agr Food Res 54:126–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Shalloo L, Dillon P, O'Loughlin J, Rath M, Wallace M (2004a) Comparison of a pasture-based system of milk production on a high rainfall, heavy-clay soil with that on a lower rainfall, free-draining soil. Grass Forage Sci 59(2):157–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shalloo L, Dillon P, Rath M, Wallace M (2004b) Description and validation of the Moorepark dairy system model. J Dairy Sci 87(6):1945–1959

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Styles D, Gibbons J, Williams AP, Stichnothe H, Chadwick DR, Healey JR (2015) Cattle feed or bioenergy? Consequential life cycle assessment of biogas feedstock options on dairy farms. Glob Change Biol Bioenergy 7(5):1034–1049

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thinkstep (2014) GaBi 6.0 life cycle engineering software. Thinkstep, Echterdingen

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomassen MA, van Calker KJ, Smits MCJ, Iepema GL, de Boer IJM (2008) Life cycle assessment of conventional and organic milk production in the Netherlands. Agric Syst 96(1–3):95–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuohy P, Fenton O, Holden NM, Humphreys J (2014) The effects of treading by two breeds of dairy cow with different live weights on soil physical properties, poaching damage and herbage production on a poorly drained clay-loam soil. J Agr Sci 153(8):1424–1436

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuohy P, Humphreys J, Holden NM, Fenton O (2016) Runoff and subsurface drain response from mole and gravel mole drainage across episodic rainfall events. Agr Water Manage 169:129–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Bysterveldt (2007) A Lincoln University Dairy Farm—an example of excellent pasture management. In: Proceedings of the 5th South African Large Herds Conference, Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, pp 19–21

  • van Zanten HHE, Mollenhorst H, Klootwijk CW, van Middelaar CE, de Boer IJM (2016) Global food supply: land use efficiency of livestock systems. Int J Life Cycle Assess 21(5):747–758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vero SE, Antille DL, Lalor STJ, Holden NM (2014) Field evaluation of soil moisture deficit thresholds for limits to trafficability with slurry spreading equipment on grassland. Soil Use Manage 30(1):69–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb J, Misselbrook TH (2004) A mass-flow model of ammonia emissions from UK livestock production. Atmos Environ 38(14):2163–2176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • White SL, Benson GA, Washburn SP, Green JT Jr (2002) Milk production and economic measures in confinement or pasture systems using seasonally calved Holstein and Jersey cows. J Dairy Sci 85(1):95–104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan MJ, Humphreys J, Holden NM (2011) An evaluation of life cycle assessment of European milk production. J Environ Manag 92(3):372–379

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan MJ, Humphreys J, Holden NM (2013a) Evaluation of process and input–output-based life-cycle assessment of Irish milk production. J Agr Sci 151(5):701–713

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan MJ, Humphreys J, Holden NM (2013b) The carbon footprint of pasture-based milk production: can white clover make a difference? J Dairy Sci 96(2):857–865

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan MJ, Humphreys J, Holden NM (2013c) Life cycle assessment of milk production from commercial dairy farms: the influence of management tactics. J Dairy Sci 96(7):4112–4124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Grant Number RSF 11/S/152. The authors greatly appreciate the assistance of Dr. A. J. Brereton and Dr. J. B. Fitzgerald.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Pooja Sharma & Nicholas M. Holden

  2. Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland

    James Humphreys

Authors
  1. Pooja Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James Humphreys
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nicholas M. Holden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pooja Sharma.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Serenella Sala

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sharma, P., Humphreys, J. & Holden, N.M. The effect of local climate and soil drainage on the environmental impact of grass-based milk production. Int J Life Cycle Assess 23, 26–40 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-017-1302-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-017-1302-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation