This study explored the greenhouse gas emissions of two Tasmanian dairy farms that have implemented the 3-in-2 milking frequency practice, where the herd is milked 3 times over a 2-day period, rather than twice a day. The practice is typically implemented to reduce labour demands, reduce dairy consumables, maintenance and resources, and improve cow performance, though its impact on emissions was unknown.
The results suggest that the emissions intensity of milk production in a 3-in-2 system are similar to that found in other Australian studies where cows were milked twice a day for the duration of their lactation. The researchers concluded that converting to the 3-in-2 practice will not contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions per unit of milk production.
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