Sustainable Planning Strategy of Dairy Farming in China Based on Carbon Emission from Direct Energy Consumption

Abstract

The mechanical and electrical development in dairy farming in China increases energy-related carbon emission (CE). To support the sustainable planning strategy of the department, this study calculated the CE and the carbon emission intensity (CI) of the direct energy consumed in dairy farms from 21 provinces in China. Through four dimensions analysis including the national level, farm scale, inter-provincial distribution, and main producing area, this study illustrates the impact of the environment, production, and management on CE. The total CE of nationwide dairy farming was about 2.4 Tg CO2 eq. in 2019, and the CIs of the 21 provinces varied from 0.009 to 0.216 kg CO2 eq. per kg of milk. The results indicate that the management mode applied in large-scale dairy farms (500 heads and above) varies considerably due to inadequate adaptation to climate. In general, semi-arid and semi-humid regions are more suitable for dairy farming than arid and humid regions. In the main milk-producing area, the spatial aggregation effect is visible in the carbon reduction potential. The present study suggests that further steps to promote sustainability and milk productivity are embodied when the replacement of fossil fuels and the management standardization are adapted to regional characteristics.