Parallel work at a nearby farm calculated carbon balances for three years for a farm with very high feed imports (about 12 tonnes dry matter or 5.3 tonnes of carbon per hectare, per year). The majority of the imported feed was converted back to carbon dioxide by cow respiration and decomposition of dung. Some of the imported carbon was also exported in increased milk production. Carbon balance measurements over maize are continuing at the site so that the carbon balance of feed production and importation can be completed.