Methane is a potent greenhouse gas – around 21 times more potent in greenhouse terms than carbon dioxide – and the dairy industry in Australia is producing around 12% of Australia’s total greenhouse emissions¹. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation reported that the livestock sector generates more greenhouse gas emissions than transport².

A dairy cow typically produces 57 litres of manure each day and around 20 tons per annum³.  2500 dairy cows produce as much waste as a town of 411,000 humans⁴. A lactating cow excretes 63-81% of nitrogen it consumes, which can contaminate both surface and ground water⁵.

The dairy industry uses 10% of all water in Australia⁶. While 550 litres of water are used to produce enough flour for a loaf of bread, a whopping 1020 litres of water to needed to create 1L of milk.

In 2006 the dairy industry in Australia spent about $500 million on grains and concentrates and became the single biggest user of feed grain of all the animal industries.

Meat and dairy consumers are having the greatest impact on environmental sustainability while vegans have the least impact on sustainability. It is a travesty that animals must endure mutilation, suffering and exploitation so that prosperous societies can consume second hand protein that causes long term health problems, damages the environment and contributes to Majority World malnutrition. If we are all, as we must, living to ensure that the footprint we leave is minimal then our first step must be to change our diet to a plant based one.