Environmental Impacts of Milking Cows in Latvia

Increasing pressures surrounding efficiency and sustainability are key global drivers in dairy farm management strategies. However, for numerous resource-based, social, economic reasons sustainable intensification strategies herd-size dependent. In this study, we investigated the environmental impacts of Latvia’s farms with different practices. The herd size-dependent groups varied from extensively managed small herds 1–9 cows, extending to stepwise more intensively 10–50, 51–100, 100–200, over 200 milking cows. aim is compare size-based production on farms. results show that gross greenhouse gas emissions differ by 29%: 1.09 kg CO2 equivalents (CO2e) per raw milk 51–100 down 0.84 CO2e/kg than land use differs even more—the largest 2.25 times less smallest Global warming potential, marine eutrophication, terrestrial acidification, ecotoxicity were highest mid-sized If current domestic, farm-based protein feeds be substituted imported soy feed (one most popular high-protein feeds) Latvian would significantly increase, e.g., increase 18% potential 43%. Environmental policy approaches steering should consider overall effects operation size quality, order support best practices each type steer systematic change country. limitations study linked national data availability (e.g., production, heifer breeding, differences among regards soil type, manure management, proximity or aquatic habitats) methodological shortcomings excluding carbon sequestration, proxy allocation, social biodiversity life-cycle assessment). Further research needed improve allocation method, provide farm-size-specific information outputs, storage, handling.