The carbon footprint (CF) of milk produced in six Italian Mediterranean Buffalo farms was
estimated through a simplified Life Cycle Assessment. Functional unit was 1 kg of fat and
protein corrected milk (FPCM).The farms were characterized by high levels of inputs, as
purchased feeds, chemical fertilizers and fossil fuels. Average cultivated area was 53.2 ha;
the forage system was based mainly on maize silage, immediately followed by Italian
ryegrass and/or whole cereal silage. Average herd size was 360 and the average FPCM per
lactating buffalo was 3563 kg/year with an average milk fat and protein percentage of 8.24
and 4.57 respectively. The CF assessment was from cradle to farm gate. The greenhouse
gases (GHG) that were taken into account were CH4from enteric fermentations, CH4from
manure in the stable and in the tank; N2O from nitrification and denitrification processes
in the manure before application into the soil and N2O produced after organic and
synthetic fertilizer application; direct emissions of CO2from the fossil fuels combustion
within the farms and indirect emissions of CO2deriving from production of electricity, offfarm feeds, synthetic fertilizers and other minor inputs. Carbon footprint of 1 kg of FPCM
was 3.75 kg CO2eq. Main sources of GHG are enteric CH4(45%) and indirect CO2eq (25%).
Besides enteric CH4, the farm activity that gives the highest contribution to milk CF is
on-farm feed production, with 34% on total greenhouse gas emissions (TGE). Carbon
footprint with economic allocation (CFea) was estimated by considering the live-weight of
males calves and culled cows: its value was 3.60 kg CO2eq. If the economic value of the
increase of the herd size is considered in the assessment, CFea decreases to 3.45 or 3.27 kg
CO2eq with an increase of 10% or 20% of the number of mature buffalos.
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