Source: CAROLINA-VIRGINIA FARMER, 7/14/11

Ruminant production systems have been criticized for their contribution to global greenhouse gases, yet U.S. beef and dairy systems have considerably reduced resource use and carbon emissions over time, according to a collection of studies presented by Dr. Jude Capper of Washington State University during this week's JAM 2011.

According to Capper, advances in nutrition, genetics and management allowed dairy cow productivity to increase 4-fold between 1944 and 2007, with 21% of the animals, 23% of the feed, 35% of the water and 10% of the land required to produce one kg. of milk in 2007 compared with 1944.

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