Allocation between milk and meat in carbon footprint and LCA
studies is an important methodological issue that can affect the
final result. Within this study the method according the IDF (2010)
was followed based on an equation that accounts for the milk and
meat output of the specific farms and the specific energy requirements
of the stock classes to produce meat and milk. Some of
the farms analysed rear calves that are sold to other farms or culled
for meat production and not used to replace the milking herd. It is
questionable to what extent the IDF (2010) allocation approach
sufficiently accounts for cattle reared on the farms that are not
directly related to milk production. This question requires further
research and could not be fully answered within this study. Despite
these minor issues, the IDF (2010) methodology was found to be
straightforward to apply and is important to produce results that
are representative and can be compared.