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.

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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 on the Farm
- Introduction to Farm Building Energy and Conservation
- 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:
- Farm Energy Efficiency Checklist and Tips
- Farm Lighting Energy Efficiency Checklist and Tips
- Farm Shop Energy Efficiency Checklist and Tips
- Grain Drying Energy Efficiency Checklist and Tips
- Greenhouse Energy Conservation Checklist
- Home Energy Efficiency Checklist and Tips
- Irrigation Energy Efficiency Checklist and Tips
- Livestock Buildings Energy Efficiency Checklist and Tips
- Livestock Watering Systems Energy Efficiency Checklist and Tips
- Tractor and Field Operations Energy Efficiency Checklist and Tips
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