Sustainability, nutrient and energy flows in the dairy cow: an overview

Publication date: 27-03-2026
Extent: 14 pages

Contributions by: John Webster, University of Bristol, UK

Chapter synopsis:

This introductory chapter comes in two parts. It first sets out the rules of engagement: the complex set of interactions that determine the sustainability of dairy farming. The chapter starts with some basic elements/concepts involved in sustainability. It then provides a simple introduction to the principles of biochemistry and physiology that determine energy and protein exchanges in the dairy cow. This is intended as a context for other, more detailed discussions that explore particular ways to manipulate these fundamentals in the direction of net zero.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2025.0157.01