Optimization of sustainable dairy-cow feeding systems with an economic-ecological LP farm model using various optimization processes

Feed production accounts for a substantial proportion of the environmental impact of animal husbandry. To enable assessment of the sustainability of dairy-cow feeding systems, a life cycle assessment (LCA) as well as additional social indicators were incorporated at farm level in a linear optimization model. Various feeding strategies were investigated using different optimization options for multi-objective problems. The feeding of by products from the food industry can reduce the environmental impact of milk production, but such by products can only be used on a limited basis. Fairly significant reductions are possible by decreasing the use of concentrates and increasing the percentage of roughage. Incorporating the sustainability evaluation in the farm model allows us to selectively consider different multi-objective systems in the optimization process, and to define the Pareto-efficient solution space.