We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Blue Water Footprints of Ontario Dairy Farms.
- Authors
Al-Bahouh, Mariam; Osborne, Vern; Wright, Tom; Dixon, Mike; VanderZaag, Andrew; Gordon, Robert
- Abstract
The blue water footprint (WF) is an indicator of freshwater required to produce a given end product. Determining the blue WF for milk production, the seasonal water use and the impact of water conservation are important sustainability considerations for the dairy industry in Ontario (Canada). In this study, a water footprint network (WFN) method was used to calculate the seasonal blue WF's from in-barn water use data and the fat–protein-corrected milk (FPCM) production. Various water conservation options were estimated using the AgriSuite software. Results showed that the total water use (L of water·cow−1·d−1) and the average blue WF (L of water·kg−1 of FPCM) were 246.3 ± 6.8 L·cow−1·d−1 and 7.4 ± 0.2 L·kg−1, respectively. The total water use and the blue WF could be reduced to 182.7 ± 5.1 L·cow−1·d−1 (25.8% reduction) and 5.8 ± 0.1 L·kg−1 (21.6% reduction), respectively, through adaptive water conservation measures as the reuse of the plate cooler and milk house water. For example, conservation practices could reduce the milk house wash water use from 74.3 ± 8.8 L·cow−1·d−1 to 16.6 ± 0.1 L·cow−1·d−1 (77.7% overall reduction).
- Subjects
ONTARIO; DAIRY farming; WATER conservation; WATER use; MILK yield; ANIMAL herds; DAIRY industry; SEASONS
- Publication
Water (20734441), 2021, Vol 13, Issue 16, p2230
- ISSN
2073-4441
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/w13162230