Methane from cows contributes to global warming — but solutions exist.

Through conversations with researchers and scientists, Michelle and Brandon learned that methane emissions from cows aren’t a fixed problem — they’re  , with many solutions already underway.

With the knowledge that methane is produced when cows digest fiber, scientists have conducted research showing that modifying a cow’s diet can reduce its emissions, with grain-fed cows producing less methane per unit of feed than pasture-raised cows due to differences in fermentation.

Feed additives are also being utilized to further reduce emissions by changing the microbial ecology of the rumen. These include:

• Essential oils and plant extracts that modify microbial activity in the stomach to limit methane formation.
• Synthetic enzyme inhibitors, such as 3-NOP, which temporarily block key enzymes involved in methane production.
• Halogenated compounds, such as red seaweed, which disrupt methane-producing microbes.
• Fat supplements that reduce fiber fermentation and methane output.
  
  

Advancements in genomics technology and selective breeding are also underway. For example, scientists at the University of California, Davis are researching genetic selection strategies to breed cows with naturally lower methane emissions, as well as precision microbiome editing to block methane-producing microbes from forming in the digestive system.

Cows play an important role in the environment.

While cows account for 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, they also:

• Help keep soil healthy by promoting plant growth and reducing land degradation.
• Provide critical nutrients that humans can’t easily obtain from other sources.
• Play a role in storing carbon in the soil through regenerative grazing.
• Support biodiversity on grazing lands, providing habitats for plant and animal species.
• Upcycle food waste, turning inedible plants and byproducts into nutrient-dense food.

Research shows that implementing well-managed grazing systems, like adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) grazing, can help farms capture up to four times as much carbon as conventional grazing methods while also reducing their cows’ methane emissions by up to 10%. These farms also have healthier soils with greater insect diversity, microbial activity and water retention capabilities, as well as more grassland birds, which thrive in environments supported by AMP grazing.

These environmental contributions are difficult to account for in basic emissions statistics, but they play a critical role in promoting sustainability.

Sustainability isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.

We must also consider that sustainability challenges and solutions can vary based on local context. Cows are raised in vastly different ways around the world, and as such, there’s no universal approach to reducing their footprint.

The good news is that progress is being made, and producers worldwide are making strides to boost their productivity while minimizing their environmental impact. For example:  

• In the U.S., cattle ranchers have made significant strides in efficiency and are now producing the same amount of beef as was produced in the 1970s with one-third fewer cows.
• In India, dairy farmers like Amit Vyas of Amul Dairy have increased their total milk production per cow by more than 300% in a decade. If results like that were scaled nationally, India could produce the same amount of milk from around 80% fewer cows.
• In Brazil — a country with more than double the number of cows as the U.S., but that produces nearly 20% less beef — farmers are making practical improvements to how their cows are raised and cared for to produce more beef with fewer resources.

In developing countries — from which 80% of all global livestock emissions originate — improvements in animal husbandry and land management are reducing the environmental impact.