How does dairy farming effect the environment?

The cows themselves don't affect the environment as seriously nor as much as the humans managing them do. The only thing that the cows themselves affect the environment negatively is their methane emissions from flatulance and belching. Cows tend to do more good to pastures and ranges than bad, provided they are managed properly. Those overgrazing areas that many people like to refer to when they want to make a show that cows are bad for the environment, are only from those areas where the cattle barons and poor herders have no education on proper grazing practices for their area. In North America, 99% of all cattlemen and -women know the proper methods of grazing cattle, and a few of these cattle folk are in the more advanced stages of incorporationg intensive grazing practices to improve pastures far more than the conventional way of grazing through what those who think are "overgrazing."

Interestingly, cows can improve habitat. They can graze on foodstuffs that help to clear debris from range-lands and hillsides, keeping it free of the fuel that feeds wildfire. Cattle can also convert dry matter into feed for themselves, including remnants like almond hulls, sugar beets, etc. This animal is an amazing machine. With its four stomach chambers, a cow can chew and then digest through its four chambers an incredible amount of food.

In addition, cattle are generally raised in environments that do not supplant acreage needed for farming. Most herds in North America are raised in environments where the growing season for food crops is short, hence they are a positive economic venture in those regions. Cattle help to preserve open range land and allow for open spaces to continue. In addition, where cattle graze, wildlife and waterfowl thrive. In North America, 75% of the waterfowl migrating north or south are protected by ranchers, not by government regulation or even conservation areas. Reducing these private lands will impact wildlife preservation.