Introduction to Energy Efficiency and Conservation for Livestock Production

Many energy conservation and efficiency strategies can be applied to dairy, livestock and poultry production to save money and reduce fuel consumption. These include energy-efficient building design, and better management of ventilation and cooling of buildings.

Use of efficient systems for vacuum pumps, cooling milk and heating water can save money on dairy farms. Most farms can find savings by replacing incandescent lighting with high efficiency fluorescent lighting, and may also save by upgrading livestock water fountains to energy-free livestock watering systems.

These dairy barns on a New England farm employ several energy conservation measures, including passive ventilation. Photo: Vern Grubinger, University of Vermont Extension

Find these topics and many other related Farm Energy media resources at the Farm Energy Media archive.

The use of animal waste systems that minimize handling, produce energy, reduce odor, and/or prevent environmental contamination may be economical on larger farms.

More livestock producers are monitoring renewable and nonrenewable energy inputs to gauge their level of sustainability and overall environmental impact.

An Energy Efficiency Checklist and Tip sheet has been developed to help identify steps you can take on a livestock farm to reduce energy consumption.

Additional Resources

Introduction to Energy Efficiency and Conservation for Livestock Production
Livestock Buildings Energy Efficiency Checklist and Tips
Livestock Watering Systems Energy Efficiency Checklist and Tips
Refrigeration Systems for Milk Cooling
Ventilation and Cooling Systems for Animal Housing

Heating Water on Dairy Farms, by Scott Sanford, University of Wisconsin Extension
Controlling Sidewall Energy Losses, Auburn University and Alabama Cooperative Extension Poultry Newsletter March 2007
Energy Efficient Agricultural Lighting by Scott Sanford, University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, provides tables and charts to help you determine if lighting is necessary and what types of lamps and fixtures are appropriate.
Energy Audits for Farms and Ranches. Agricultural Marketing Resource Center.

Efficiency Checklist and Tip Series:

Contributors to This Article

Author

Vern Grubinger, Professor, University of Vermont Extension

Peer Reviewer

Scott Sanford, Senior Outreach Specialist, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Richard Beard, Associate Professor, Extension Agricultural Engineering, Utah State University