Breeding to reduce emissions in beef cattle

A good breeding strategy will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while maintaining herd profitability.

Breeding goals for beef farmers are largely economic – improving herd efficiency and productivity. Fortunately, breeding goals designed to improve efficiency can also reduce carbon emissions. Breeding cattle that produce more meat with fewer inputs and less waste is a win-win: lower emissions and higher returns.

Benefits for the environment and your farm business

One of the best ways to lower emissions in your own herd is by increasing the number of calves a cow produces over her lifetime. In the UK, the average number of calvings for a beef cow is just over five. Research shows that just one additional calf, for an average UK suckler system, would cut the carbon footprint of her offspring by 4%.

An environmental breeding goal aims to breed more efficient cattle, which will also lead to gains in profitability. However, the benefits are not limited to just environmental and economic sustainability. Key traits for an environmental goal include survival and longevity and these are key metrics for animal health and welfare.

An environmental breeding goal is a win for the environment, a win for farmer profit and a win for the consumer who wants healthy, environmentally friendly cows.

Breeding strategies to lower emissions

EnviroBeef breeding index

The EnviroBeef breeding index can help suckler farmers select the best breeding animals to reduce the carbon footprint of their beef.

It can be used for bulls, cows, and cattle raised for beef, provided there is enough data.

Breeding indexes add up the estimated breeding values (EBVs) for all relevant traits, ensuring those with a greater impact on the breeding goal are given a greater weight.

The EnviroBeef breeding index focuses on reducing emissions through improved herd efficiency; this can also support farm profits.

Additionally, it allows farmers to make improvements within their current system instead of needing to change their approach; this can be particularly useful for extensive grazing systems.

Using EnviroBeef to select breeding animals with a greater genetic potential to reduce the carbon footprint will mean the next generation will be more efficient, reducing the carbon footprint of the beef.

Analysis of historical data shows that this can improve the genetic potential for the carbon footprint by ~0.1% per year and, depending on your animals, there is the potential for greater gains.

Using EnviroBeef is a win-win-win for your emissions, profit and animal welfare.

Find out more about EnviroBeef

Other breeding strategies

As well as the EnviroBeef breeding index, there are several other breeding strategies that can be used to reduce the emissions of beef production. These include:

Breeding for feed efficiency

There is a link between feed intake and methane. Cattle that eat less, on average, produce less enteric methane but also reduce emissions associated with feed production and transport.

You can breed animals with lower feed requirements by using feed efficiency EBVs. These are available for Stabilisers through the Stabiliser Cattle Company (Feed efficiency - Stabiliser Cattle Company). Some genetics companies, such as Cogent, also provide feed efficiency measures on their bulls (e.g. EcoFeed).

In 2025, we will also publish results for Limousin animals as part of the beef feed efficiency programme.

Breeding to improve herd efficiency

Efficient herds have a lower carbon footprint. To reduce carbon footprint, a herd needs to do more with less. This can be achieved by selecting cattle which require less inputs, while also maintaining a good relative production level to breed more efficient cattle.

Current beef genetic evaluations already include a range of traits to achieve this, including:

Growth rate/Days to slaughter: Animals that finish quickly produce less methane
Mature cow weight : Smaller cows produce less methane
Age at first calving: A heifer who calves earlier has a shorter period of producing methane before she begins producing calves
400-day weight/600-day weight/carcase weight: Although heavier animals tend to produce slightly more methane, this can be offset by the increased beef production
Milk: Although a higher milk yield can mean cows produce slightly more methane, this is offset by the increased beef produced by their heavier calves
Calf survival/Calving ease: Improving genetics for survival and calving ease reduces deaths. Poorer calf survival rates lower beef production, while emissions produced by the cows are maintained, leading to poorer efficiency

Productive lifespan: More productive cows produce more calves, leading to greater beef production. This again improves efficiency overall, reducing the beef carbon footprint.

All of these traits are measured using Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), which measure an animal’s genetic potential. They are produced through genetic evaluations from breed societies, breeding companies and the National Beef Evaluations.

EBVs use performance and pedigree data, correcting for non-genetic factors. Accuracies of EBVs can typically be increased by also including DNA test results (known as genotypes) in genomic evaluations. A more accurate measure means the best animals can be more accurately identified.

Avoid selecting animals based on a single trait. For example, smaller cows produce less methane but may also produce calves with smaller carcases, resulting in less beef.

Consider a wide variety of traits when choosing your best breeding animals. Selection to reduce mature size needs to be balanced with a production ambition to lift cattle growth rates. Calving ease must also be considered to ensure any reduction in cow mature size doesn’t compromise calving ease when a cow is mated to a terminal sire breed.

Practical steps for farmers

Assess the herd and choose the best animals to breed replacements from
Use EBVs and search for breeding traits to prioritise, for example days to slaughter, mature weight, carcase weight, calf survival and productive lifespan
Consider genomic testing to get a more detailed picture on the genetics of the herd
Although visually assessing cattle and understanding individual farm and business needs must be part of the decision-making process when selecting for specific genetic traits, every farmer can benefit from utilising EBVs