Modelluntersuchungen zu Treibhausgasemissionen der ökologischen und konventionellen Milcherzeugung

Summary

A model to analyse the fossil energy input and the greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions of dairy farms is presented. The model was applied in model farms that base on a set of real dairy farms. The subject of the examination is to identify the major energy inputs and contributing factors to the GHG-emissions of dairy farming. The results show that the fodder production, the milking process and the breeding of heifers are the biggest energy inputs. The main sources of GHG are the fodder production and methane from digestion. Strategies to optimise farming systems and to mitigate GHG-emissions from dairy farms can be derived from the results.