Global warming and management practices impact water footprint in dairy production

Researchers from Brazilian and German institutions evaluated how interventions related to production practices and manure management contribute to reducing water consumption in dairy production. They also analyzed the impacts of climate change on the water footprint of the activity. In total, 192 combinations between good practices and climate scenarios were carried out for each of the 67 farms studied, which resulted in data on water efficiency on the properties and milk production, useful for guiding their greater sustainability. The scientific work "How do production practices and climate change impact the water footprint of dairy farms?" was published in the international journal Science of The Total Environment. The 67 properties analyzed are located in Lajeado Tacongava, in the northeast region of Rio Grande do Sul, representing 81.7% of the farms in this hydrographic basin. Of the total, 57 are pasture-based; seven are semi-confined and three are confined. All properties ...