Sustainability of Dairy Farming

Sustainability of dairy farming refers to the capacity of dairy production systems to ensure longterm environmental integrity, economic viability, animal health and welfare, and social acceptance, while maintaining efficient milk production. The concept is structured around the three interconnected dimensions: environmental, biological (animal-centered), and socio-economic. Sustainable dairy farming involves optimizing feed and nutrient efficiency, reducing environmental pollution, conserving biodiversity and natural resources, maintaining farm profitability, and protecting animal welfare. It also includes adapting to climate change and aligning with evolving social expectations regarding ethical animal production, resource use, and public health. Historically, dairy systems have undergone substantial intensification, characterized by increasing milk yield per cow, larger herd sizes, and technological advancements. Although intensification has improved productivity and reduced emissions per unit of milk, it has also generated concerns regarding environmental degradation, metabolic stress in cows, structural resilience, and public trust. In Europe, the abolition of milk quotas and the resulting production fluctuations have shifted the focus from expansion to structural consolidation and sustainability-oriented transformation. The transition to sustainable dairy systems increasingly integrates agroecological principles, digital technologies, resilience-oriented breeding, and multidimensional sustainability assessment frameworks. Sustainability in dairy farming is thus not a static goal but a dynamic process that requires systemic adaptation, innovation, and continuous assessment in biological, environmental, and socio-economic terms.