Dairy at Smallrigg

Why does the dairy industry emit so many greenhouse gases?

Cows have a bad rep in sustainability circles. The way they digest produces relatively high amounts of methane. But it’s not just the animals’ natural bodily cycles that make the meat and dairy industry responsible for nearly 15% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The ways in which cattle feed is mass produced, animals are managed on large-scale farms, and food is stored and transported all add to the footprint. At Smallrigg Farm in Lochmaben, a father and son team are trying to help local colleagues reduce that impact.

What makes dairy so high-impact? Skim the resources below to learn about the complex interactions between cultivated grass and grain, cattle breeds, and human consumption.

Does dairy production have to be so high-impact? There are ways to reduce its footprint. Dan and Chris Newbould spent their time at Smallrigg Farm experimenting with different techniques to make their farm more sustainable. They also worked with other farmers in Dumfriesshire to encourage similar action from them. Read more about how they work below.

• • the story of Sustainable Agricultural Inputs: https://sustainableagri.co.uk/about/ 

  • the chemistry behind some of their soil and crop products: https://sustainableagri.co.uk/products/soil-and-crop/ 

  • support for reducing food waste during the production and storage cycle: https://sustainableagri.co.uk/products/feed-and-forage-preservatives/