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Reproductive efficiency and sustainability

How calving interval and reproductive performance affect productivity, carbon footprint, and sustainability in dairy farming.


Emphasis

Introduction

 

Dairy farming faces the challenge of balancing productivity and sustainability, especially in a scenario where efficiency is vital to meet growing environmental and economic demands. Recent studies have analyzed how reproductive performance directly impacts herd composition, productivity, and carbon emissions.

 

The following text was created based on the works: " Contrast of low and high reproductive performance in herd composition, productivity and carbon footprint in the dairy production system " (Abreu et al., 2024) and " Effect of calving interval on productivity and carbon footprint in high-producing cows " (Carvalho et al., 2024). Based on data from two commercial Brazilian farms and using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, these studies performed simulations and contextualized how reproductive decisions can influence sustainability in milk production.


Profile of the farms used in the studies

 

Farm 1: Basis of the study " Contrast of low and high reproductive performance in herd composition, productivity and carbon footprint in the dairy production system " (Abreu et al., 2024):

  • Location: State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

  • Total herd: 1,037 animals, including lactating cows, dry cows, heifers and calves.

  • Lactating cows: 421 Holstein cows.

  • Management system: Compost barn.

  • Age at first birth: Average 24 months.

  • Calving interval: Average of 14 months.

  • Average milk production: 32 liters/cow/day.

 

Farm 2: Basis of the study " Effect of calving interval on productivity and carbon footprint in high-producing cows " (Carvalho et al., 2024):

  • Location: State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

  • Total herd: 795 animals, including lactating cows, dry cows and heifers.

  • Lactating cows: 200 Holstein cows.

  • Management system: Compost barn

  • Calving interval: Average of 14 months.

  • Average milk production: 34.5 liters/cow/day.

 

These farms provided the basis for simulations of different reproductive and productive scenarios, exploring the impacts of management and performance adjustments on sustainability.


Impact of reproductive efficiency on carbon footprint


The study conducted by Abreu et al., 2024, with data from Farm 1, modeled scenarios of high and low reproductive efficiency.

 

  • Methodology: Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) was applied to calculate the total carbon emissions associated with each scenario, including enteric emissions, waste management and input use.

  

Table 1: Relationship between age at first birth, birth interval and carbon footprint in the simulated scenarios

Age at first birth (months)

Calving interval (months)

Carbon Footprint (kg CO₂/kg FPCM milk)

24

12

0.79

36

16

1.07

Based on Abreu et al., 2024

Calving interval and carbon emissions

 

The study by Carvalho et al., 2024, with data from Farm 2, investigated the impact of different calving intervals on productivity and carbon footprint.

 

  • Methodology: As in the first study, the carbon footprint was estimated using Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), considering the emissions associated with each scenario .

 

  • Summary results:

    • 12-month interval: Higher productivity (37.2 liters/cow/day) and lower carbon footprint (0.7860 kg CO₂/kg FPCM milk).

    • 14-month interval: Intermediate productivity (34.5 liters/cow/day) and emissions of 0.8206 kg CO₂/kg of FPCM milk.

    • 16-month interval: Lower productivity (32 liters/cow/day) and higher carbon footprint (0.8652 kg CO₂/kg FPCM milk).


The carbon footprint of milk in the 16-month IEP scenario was 10% higher when compared to the 12-month IEP scenario.



Table 2: Impact of Calving Interval on Productivity and Carbon Footprint

Calving interval (months)

Productivity (liters/cow/day)

Carbon Footprint (kg CO₂/kg FPCM milk)

12

37.2

0.786

13

35.8

0.791

14

34.5

0.821

15

33.2

0.844

16

32.0

0.865

Based on Carvalho et al., 2024


Chart 1: Impact of Calving Interval on Productivity and Carbon Footprint


Graph 1

Based on Carvalho et al., 2024

Study Methodology

 

As noted in this post, in both publications, the authors used real data collected on two commercial farms to parameterize the scenario simulations. Applying Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) ensured that the estimated emissions included both direct (such as enteric fermentation and manure management) and indirect (such as input production and transportation) aspects. This approach connected real-world data observation with scenario exploration based on statistical analysis, providing actionable insights.


Conclusion

 

Studies show that reproductive decisions, such as calving intervals and herd composition, directly affect milk's carbon footprint. Implementing practices that promote reproductive efficiency can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously increasing productivity and aligning dairy production with the demands for low-environmental-impact practices.


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