Sustainability Indicators: measuring sustainability performance
Caring Dairy has developed 11 sustainability indicators. For each indicator, measurement points or parameters have been defined that enable actual performance measurement. Each Caring Dairy farmer determines the focus of his improvement plan based on the farm situation – such as soil type, land division situation, farm strategy – and personal priorities.

1. Soil fertility/health
Soil is fundamental to agricultural systems, and a rich soil ecosystem contributes to crop and livestock performance. Sustainable practices can improve beneficial components of the soil’s ecosystem.
Examples of parameters:
1) % of clover in the grassland
2) % of grassland renewal
3) % organic dry matter/ha
4) Crop rotation scheme.

2. Soil loss
Soil eroded by water and wind can lose both structure and organic matter, diminishing the assets of an agricultural system. Sustainable practices can reduce soil erosion.
Examples of parameters:
1) Use of cover crops in winter time for the crop land
2) Presence of no grazing zones near ditches.

3. Nutrients
Crops and livestock need a balance of nutrients. Some of these can be created locally (e.g., nitrogen), and some must be imported. Nutrients are lost through cropping, inefficient grassland management, erosion and emissions to the air. Sustainable practices can enhance locally produced nutrients and reduce losses.
Examples of parameters:
1) Farm surpluses of Nitrogen (N)/ Phosphates (P)/ heavy metals
2) Dairy farm intensity (kg milk/ha)
3) Kg concentrates/100 kg milk
4) % urea in milk.

4. Pest Management
When pesticides are applied to crops, a small but significant proportion can escape to water and air or accumulate in feed and foods, affecting ecosystems and human health. Sustainable practices can substitute natural controls for some pesticides, reducing dependence on synthetic substances.
Examples of parameters:
1)Amount and type of pesticides (active ingredient) applied per ha per year.

5. Biodiversity
Agriculture has shaped most ecosystems in the world, and biodiversity can be improved or reduced by agricultural practices. Some biodiversity is highly beneficial for agriculture. Sustainable practices can improve biodiversity - by `greening the edges' of the field.
Examples of parameters:
1) Level of biodiversity on site: number of species (e.g., birds, butterflies) and varieties (e.g. grass); farm landscape; habitat for natural predator systems (e.g., hedgerows, ponds, non-cropped areas)
2) Level of biodiversity off-site: cross-boundary effects.

Value chain is the term for the sum total of all value-adding activities which lead to putting a product on the market. For ice cream, farm economics is an integral part of the value chain. Farmers should develop a firm grasp of what influences the economics
of their farm and what non-economic value they produce. Sustainable practices should be able to maintain or improve farm economics, and add to nature values and eco-system service values.
service values.
Examples of parameters:
1) Net farm income
2) Conformance to quality
specifications - nutritional value, including fats and proteins
3) Financial risk management
and solvency
4) Insight in the value chain
5) Improving farming image.

7. Energy
Although the energy of sunlight is a fundamental input to agriculture, the energy balance of agricultural systems depends on the additional energy supplied from non-renewable sources to power machinery. Sustainable practices can improve the energy balance and ensure that it remains positive - there is more energy coming out than going in.
Examples of parameters:
1) Total direct and indirect energy use (MJ per 100 kg milk)
2) KWh electricity per 100 kg milk
3) m3 natural gas/100 kg milk
4) Use of green energy.

8. Water
Some agricultural systems make use of water for irrigation, some pollute or contaminate ground or surface water with pesticides, nutrients or soil. Sustainable practices can make targeted use of inputs, and reduce losses.
Examples of parameters:
1) Tap water use/100 kg milk
2) Ground water use per 100 kg of milk.

9. Social/human capital
The challenge of using natural resources sustainably is fundamentally a social one. It requires collective action, the sharing of new knowledge and continuous innovation. Sustainable agriculture practices can improve both social and human capital in order to ensure normal outputs. The prime responsibility for this should remain with the local community, leading to realistic and actionable targets.
Examples of parameters:
1) Group dynamics/organisational density (farmer groups)
2) Work load farmers
3) Hours of training/education per year
4) Number of vacation days per year
5) Rate of innovation.

10. Local economy
Agricultural inputs (goods, labour, services) can be sourced from many places, but when they come from the local economy, the expenditure helps to sustain local businesses and livelihoods. Sustainable agriculture practices can help to make the best use of local and available resources in order to increase efficiency.
Examples of parameters:
1) Amount of money/profit reinvested locally
2) Percentage of goods/labour/services sourced locally
3) Presence and impact of agro-tourism.

11. Animal welfare
Animal husbandry systems are becoming ever more specialised and therefore further removed from the wild habitat where farm animal ancestors evolved. Treatment of animals in contemporary artificial environments is a major ethical concern. Care must be taken that the animals can live in harmony with their environment.
Examples of parameters:
1) Health status of the cows (claw, skin and udder condition)
2) General housing, feeding, and watering conditions cows
3) Number of days grazing per year.