Assessment of carbon footprint of milk production and identification of its major determinants in smallholder dairy farms in Karnataka, India

Indian dairy enterprise is dominated by smallholder farms that contribute 72% of the country's total milk production. These are often considered to emit substantial greenhouse gases (GHG) but poor in productive performances. Therefore, it crucial estimate carbon footprint (CF) production farms. The primary objectives study were: 1) Assessing CF through life cycle analysis south-interior Karnataka, India; 2) Identifying hotspots GHG emissions and significant factors influencing system. accounted from different sources multiple functions Estimations were made based on data collected 47 associated secondary data. For estimating production, dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) nitrous oxide (N2O) CO2-equivalent (CO2-eq) basis feed enteric fermentation, manure management, transport energy usage allocated fat-protein-corrected (FPCM) mass balance, price (crop by-products residues) digestibility. Principal component stepwise linear regression performed identify major CF. average (kg CO2-eq yr-1 farm-1) attributable mass, economic digestibility allocations 8936, 8641 8759, respectively. contributions CH4, N2O CO2 farm emission 70.6, 20.5 7.69%, CH4 fermentation (66.8%) (23.0%). cradle-to-dairy cooperative varied 1.45 1.81 kg FPCM−1. was more than 2-fold greater, when yield below 3500 lactating cow−1 yr−1. FPCM 100 body weight−1, dry matter intake management strongest determinants explained 83.4% observed variation. emphasized importance considering a mixed crop-livestock-based system for per unit product. results suggest maintaining high-yielding animals adopting appropriate feeding strategies better utilization possible effective interventions reducing