Cow manure to fuel milk tankers in bid to cut climate impact of dairy farms
DAIRY farms are trialling “poo power” to fuel milk tankers in efforts to cut their climate impact.
The cow-pats are turned into biogas which replaces diesel.
Farmer-owned co-op Arla has carried out a study on the carbon footprint of the milk industry using data from 1,964 farms.
Poo-powered milk trucks are among the measures outlined in its report.
Other ideas include precision slurry-spreading techniques.
Arla said the report will help it meet its target for a 30 per cent emissions cut by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
It found the main sources of emissions are cow digestion and the methane they burp out, and how and where the livestock feed is produced.
New technologies being tried include spreading slurry as fertiliser on fields in ways that cut ammonia emissions.
Farmers are also keeping an eye on the health and happiness of their cows using Fitbit-type monitors.
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And as healthy, contented cows make milk production more efficient — and therefore with a lower emissions footprint — farmers are using tracker collars or ankle bracelets to manage their welfare.
Alice Swift, of Arla, said: “All food production creates emissions, but our farmers are stepping up to help with the climate and environmental crisis.”