It’s true that cattle, sheep and other ruminants emit methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG). In fact, methane from livestock is the largest source of greenhouse gas in the agriculture sector and make up around 10 per cent of Australia’s total annual emissions.
All GHGs behave differently in the atmosphere. Methane is about 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, but has a much shorter lifespan. This shorter lifespan means that changes in amount of methane released to the atmosphere can have an impact sooner to reducing warming pressure. This is why the red meat industry is committed to exploring ways we can reduce methane emissions.
Does red meat contribute to global warming?
When looking at the share of national emissions (excluding LULUCF) on a Mt CO2-e basis by sector for 2021-22, the energy sector contributes 76% of national emissions (incl stationary energy 50%, transport 17% and fugitive emissions 9%), agriculture 15% (incl methane from livestock 10-11%), industrial processes and product use 6% and waste 3%.
Methane from livestock contributes approximately 10-111% of Australia’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
While methane is a natural byproduct of digestion for livestock, it is nonetheless a powerful greenhouse gas. The red meat industry is investing in ways to reduce methane produced by cows. Grazing farms also have much potential to manage their landscapes to draw down or ‘store’ carbon out of the atmosphere in vegetation, trees and soils.
What’s the industry doing about reducing GHG emissions?
In Australia, net GHG emissions from the red meat industry are falling. In fact, the Australian beef, sheep and goat industries reduced net GHG emissions by 78.56%1 in the period from 2005 to 2021.
With investment in innovative emissions reduction practices and technologies, the red meat and livestock industry aims to be carbon neutral by 2030 (CN30) and play a key role in the climate solution.
On-farm, Australian red meat producers are reducing net emissions through:
- Improvements in feeding practices (better pastures, new types of food, more grains)
- Improved ways of handling manure
- Improved genetics and animal management
- Sequestering (storing) carbon in the land and trees
- Incorporating renewable energy sources
Processing plants are also investigating the potential of re-using methane and biogas as a renewable energy source.
Did you know?
- Feed additives can significantly reduce methane emissions from cattle. In feedlot trials, red Asparagopsis and Bovaer®10 have achieved up to 90% less methane. and more work is being done to understand their potential for grazing cattle2.
- Farmers looking after the land and biodiversity can also increase the amount of carbon sequestered in soils and vegetation on property.
1Data analysed from 2021 Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory and 2021 Greenhouse gas footprint of the red meat industry
2 Meat & Livestock Australia 2021, The feed additive reducing methane emissions by up to 90%, <https://www.mla.com.au/news-and-events/industry-news/the-feed-additive-reducing-methane-emissions-by-up-to-90/> and Meat & Livestock Australia 2023, P.PSH.1351 - Efficacy and safety of Asparagopsis extract in a canola oil carrier for feedlot cattle, <https://www.mla.com.au/contentassets/eed97854073241bdaf826626b932fc1a/p.psh.1351-final-report_190423.pdf>
