How RoboticsReducedthe CarbonFootprintof
aDairy Farm’sMilk Production by30%
Evie Rogers, Net Zero
Advisor

• UK agriculture is responsible for 10% of total greenhouse gas emissions
• Carbon audits provide a baseline figure of emissions and an assessment of
efficiency

Case Study: Penrith, Cumbria
(2020)
• 200 Holsteins
• 2x a day milking
• Rotary parlour
• 9,500L per cow per annum
• Cows grazed in the summer, housed
over winter period
• Using a mix of conventional and sexed
semen
•

1.43kg/ CO2e per 1kg
FCM
(2020)
0.99kg/ CO2e per 1kg
FCM
(2023)

Journeyto Net Zero– Decreasedfootprint of 31%
Increased yields by
20% to
11,500L/cow
Increased feed
uptakes
Improvement in
cow
housing
Robotic milking, 3.3
milking's/day &
automated feeders
Nutrient management
planning and liming
programme
Greater
grassland
utilization
Huge reduction in mastitis and
antibiotic use – overall
improvement to health

Case Study: Penrith, Cumbria
(2023)
• Achieving a footprint of 0.99kg per kg of FCM
• Cow numbers remain stable at 200
• A5 Lely Robot Installation – Milking 3.3 times a day
• 11,500L per cow, 21% increase in production
• BF. 4.2, Protein. 3.3%
• Housed all-year round, new & improved housing
• Moved to AI with more of the herd receiving sexed, and introducing
Wagyu beef
• Increased feed uptake, Lely Juno (pushes feed up)

How was the footprint calculated?
Average on AgreCalc 1.17kg when comparing with all-year round high production
systems
AgreCa
lc
IPCC
verified
Livestoc
k
specific
2020,
1.43kg
2023,
0.99kg
*Does not
include soil
sequestratio
n
0.79k
g
*Including
soil
carbon

Whyhasit changed?
• Major change, increase in yield
• Improved feed efficiency
• Robot feeds to yields, encourages more visits
from cows increasing efficiency and yield
• Increased grassland utilization, making more
silage
• Herd health, much less mastitis

Soil testing for
carbon and aim
to maintain &
build carbon
levels
Slurry storage
Hedgerow planting
Improvements
in calf and
youngstock
housing
What are
the next
stepsto get
the farm to
Net Zero?

Whydid the farmundertake
the carbonaudit?
A carbon footprint is a sign of efficiency
and profitability
Link between high emissions on farm
and profitability
The farm made these alterations to improve
herd health, production and profitability
BUT the added bonus of implementing
those actions reduced their carbon
footprint