The use of broccoli agro-industrial waste in dairy cattle diet for environmental mitigation

Abstract Livestock feed production for the intensive dairy industry has a significant environmental impact. This study evaluated potential to reduce impacts of milk in Guanajuato, Mexico, by incorporating broccoli stems (BS), an abundant agro-industrial waste product with high nutritional value, into cattle feed. The reduction from adding BS diet formulation was estimated using life cycle assessment and linear programming model which considered requirements as constraints. Two scenarios were considered: optimized conventional including BS. results indicated that could greenhouse gas emissions 118 g CO2 eq kg−1 fat-and-protein corrected (FPCM agricultural land occupation 0.002 m2a FPCM but increased fossil depletion 4 g oil FPCM. can replace 11.1% feeds maximize incorporation low diet, such alfalfa hay maize silage. A sensitivity analysis economic allocation showed maximum price remain environmentally viable 19.28 USD t−1 on fresh matter basis.