Carbon balance in the Brazilian tropical dairy farming system

The expected increase in the global population is projected to raise the demand for milk and dairy products by 2050, highlighting the need to improve production efficiency while mitigating environmental impacts. This study evaluated the carbon balance of Brazilian tropical dairy farming systems by integrating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals into a single farm-scale assessment, focusing on two milk production levels during lactation: high (HPS, ≥8500 kg milk cow −1 year −1 ) and medium production potential (MPS, <8500 kg milk cow −1 year −1 ). Emissions and removals were estimated following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance Partnership guidelines. Compared with MPS, HPS showed larger areas, herd sizes, and milk production, reflecting greater productive efficiency associated with more effective management. Consequently, HPS exhibited lower GHG emission intensity from enteric fermentation, manure management, and feed, resulting in a lower overall emission intensity. In contrast, MPS attained higher GHG removal intensity, mainly through soil carbon sequestration associated with land-use change and tree biomass. Despite this greater removal capacity, the higher emission intensity of MPS resulted in a less favorable overall carbon balance than HPS. Both systems therefore contribute to low-carbon dairy development through complementary pathways: HPS primarily by reducing emissions per unit of product, and MPS primarily by enhancing carbon removals. Integrating emission-reduction strategies with practices that enhance carbon sequestration is required to advance low-carbon milk production and support the sector's mitigation goals.