“It is worth noting that a recent analysis from the Organic Center (Benbrook, 2009), intended to demonstrate the advantages of moving from conventional to organic dairy production, is based on a flawed premise, namely that productivity (milk yield per cow) does not differ between conventional and organic systems. Productivity
is demonstrably lower under organic management with a reduction in milk yield per cow ranging from 15-27% (Nauta et al., 2006; Sato et al., 2005; USDA, 2007; Zwald et al., 2004). When differences in productivity are accounted for, organic dairy production requires considerably more resources (feed, land, water etc) per unit of milk produced and has a greater environmental impact (Capper et al., 2008).”
DEMYSTIFYING THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF FOOD PRODUCTION
J. L. Capper, R. A. Cady and D. E. Bauman
1 Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
2 Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN
3 Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Proceedings of the Cornell Nutrition Conference 2009
