Instant Insights: Improving the Sustainability of Dairy Production

This book features five peer-reviewed reviews on best practices for improving the sustainability of dairy production. The first chapter reviews the main, internationally accepted methods available to evaluate the environmental impact of dairy farming, identify levers of action and set environmental targets. The second chapter considers how dairy farms can manage both energy consumption and water in order to minimise their environmental impacts. The chapter also addresses the issue of sustainable water use. The third chapter provides a compilation of current research which highlights the need to further examine dietary mitigation strategies in ruminant production systems at a whole farm level. The chapter also discusses the range of nutritional strategies available for enteric- and manure-CH4 abatement. The fourth chapter focusses on the role of the ruminant microbiome in methane emissions and the potential genetic factors affecting microbial composition and emission reduction. The final chapter highlights the growing issue of food loss and waste (FLW) in countries with developed dairy value chains. The chapter discusses the key stages and management practices for reducing FLW in dairy value chains, as well as how decision-making can be improved.