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Sammanfattning

Dairy production delivers nutrient-dense food but it also constitutes a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Feed formulation plays a central role in shaping both productivity and the climate footprint of dairy systems. This thesis investigated how feed ration formulation can reduce GHG emissions from Swedish high-producing dairy production whilst maintaining productivity. This was addressed across multiple system levels, from the individual animal to the regional food system. 

Two feeding trials with dairy cows and heifers evaluated animal performance and enteric methane (CH4) emissions. Study I compared two pelleted concentrate mixes, formulated with low-carbon-footprint (CF) by-products (BYP) and/or domestically sourced (DOM) ingredients, to a commercially available mix (COM). Both reduced feed-related GHG emissions without compromising feed intake, milk yield, or enteric CH4 emissions from high-producing (43.3 ± 5.4 kg ECM/d) Swedish Holstein cows. Study II tested a ration designed for forage scarcity, where whole-crop wheat silage was partially incorporated (50:50 DM basis) in grass-clover silage-based diets fed to Holstein and Nordic Red heifers. This substitution did not negatively affect feed intake, growth rate, or enteric CH4 emissions. 

Results from these trials were integrated into a farm-level life cycle assessment (Study III). At the farm level, when compared to COM, BYP decreased total farm-level GHG emissions (-6%) and land use (-3.8%), whilst DOM achieved smaller reductions in farm-level GHG emissions (-2.1% to -2.6%) but increased land use (up to +6.8%). At the regional level (Study IV), scenario modelling of dairy production in northern Sweden illustrated trade-offs among climate footprint, land use, feed self-sufficiency, and milk output. 

This thesis demonstrates that feed rations based on low-CF ingredients can reduce GHG emissions from high-yielding Swedish dairy production without compromising animal performance. However, the environmental outcomes depend on ingredient choice and system boundaries, highlighting the need to evaluate feeding strategies at multiple system levels to inform sustainable dairy development.

Nyckelord

Sustainability; nutrition; roughage; heifer; dairy cow; Sweden; Hållbarhet; näring; grovfoder; kviga; mjölkko; Sverige

Publicerad i

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae
2025, nummer: 2025:70
Utgivare: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

SLU författare

UKÄ forskningsämne

Husdjursvetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.54612/a.1929uke7ci
  • ISBN: 978-91-8124-054-2
  • eISBN: 978-91-8124-100-6

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/142471