To reduce GHG emissions further, all segments of the dairy industry must optimize efficiency. That means increasing milk yield per cow, reducing enteric emissions, improving manure handling, optimizing breeding and enhancing cow comfort.
In 2008, the dairy industry made a voluntary commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25% by 2020 – a lofty goal, to say the least. In fact, it is remarkable to think how far we have already come since 1944.
Research published in the Journal of Animal Science shows the carbon footprint of a glass of milk was 63% lower in 2007 than in 1944. Based on the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy’s “Carbon and Water Life Cycle Assessment for U.S. Milk,” the carbon footprint of 1 gallon of fluid milk consumed today is 17.6 pounds of CO2 equivalent, the globally recognized method of GHG reporting.