Don't Blame Dairy Cows for Greenhouse Emissions

[pokerfan]

ScienceDaily (Oct. 19, 2010) — Forget all the tacky jokes about cow flatulence causing climate change. A new study reports that the dairy industry is responsible for only about 2.0 percent of all US greenhouse gas emissions.

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The team concluded that the cumulative total emission of greenhouse gases associated with all fluid milk consumed in the US was approximately 35 million metric tons in 2007. While the emissions are lower than sometimes reported, there is still room for improvement for dairy farms and businesses of all kinds, the study concluded. In particular, manure management, feed production and enteric methane (cow gas) were cited as areas that are ripe for innovation on farms. Energy management provides the greatest opportunity in the processing, transportation and retail segments.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101018163743.htm

[wtmusic]

1. 2% in US; 18% worldwide.

I don't blame the cows, though. I blame the people who eat them. :D

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. The 2% is just *dairy* cows, which are about 1/10th of the US cattle

The US cattle herd continues to decline, with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reporting a 1.2 million head fall for the year to 1 July 2010, at 100.8 million head. This is the smallest July US cattle inventory since records commenced in 1973
...
Contrary to the beef herd, the US dairy herd looks likely to stabilize over the coming year, with heifers for dairy cow replacement jumping 3%, to 4.05 million head. Dairy cow herd numbers declined 1% for the past year, to 9.1 million head, as liquidation continued toward the end of 2009. Dairy cow slaughter though has eased so far this year (January to June), with volumes down 5% on the same time last year, to 1.4 million head.

http://www.meattradenewsdaily.co.uk/news/030810/usa___cattle_herd_in_decline_.aspx

That 9.1 million number may be cows only, so the number for the dairy herd in total (ie including breeding males, or short-lived males) may be a bit more. But it certainly shows that the dairy herd is a minority of the US cattle herd. The 2% is the amount of GHGs for the milk drinkers, not the meat eaters.

[wtmusic]

3. Thanks for correction. nt

[mysuzuki2]

4. The other 98% of greenhouse gas emissions

comes from middle-aged men who drink too much beer.

[Historic NY]

5. What..someone found out chewing sugarless gum and using sugarless products is worst..

man somedays I got more gas that the utility company.

[AlecBGreen]

6. hmm

"A new study reports that the dairy industry is responsible for only about 2.0 percent of all US greenhouse gas emissions"

2.0% by VOLUME or by EFFECT?

"The team concluded that the cumulative total emission of greenhouse gases associated with all fluid milk consumed in the US was approximately 35 million metric tons in 2007. "

35 million metric tons of WHAT? The article doesnt say, although they mention the purpose is to "measure the carbon footprint." So Im assuming they are looking at CO2. How about methane...?

Sorry, grouchy today. What a useless article.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. I think they're looking at effect, and measuring in "tons of CO2 equivalent"

The article says it's based on this press release, which, while not making that clear, does say

The team concluded that the cumulative total emission of greenhouse gases associated with all fluid milk consumed in the US was approximately 35 million metric tons in 2007. While the emissions are lower than sometimes reported, there is still room for improvement for dairy farms and businesses of all kinds, the study concluded. In particular, manure management, feed production and enteric methane (cow gas) were cited as areas that are ripe for innovation on farms. Energy management provides the greatest opportunity in the processing, transportation and retail segments.

so they are looking at methane as well as CO2.

'Carbon dioxide equivalent' is a common measurement.