I’m fed up with talking about the weather, but I can console myself with the fact we have grabbed every opportunity so far and progress is not too bad.Livestock vital in fight against climate change
A LEADING scientist has issued a robust rebuttal to those who claim livestock are the biggest contributors to climate change.
Dr David Garwes, an independent livestock scientist, said grassland farmers made a considerable contribution to food security while continuing to reduce their environmental impact.
His report, released by the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE), added livestock farmers made an important contribution in the fight against climate change.
In his report, Reducing Emissions from Livestock, Dr Garwes also urged consumers not to abandon meat eating.
Dr Garwes said: “More than 60 per cent of British agricultural land is grassland and much of it, particularly the hills and uplands, is unsuitable for other crops.
“Semi-permanent rough grazing and improved grasslands play a vital role in locking up carbon dioxide and regulating the flow of rain into water courses.
“Without livestock farming, those natural resources would be abandoned and the landscape would soon change beyond recognition.”
The report also pointed out that farmers had been reducing livestock numbers for years thanks to greater efficiencies in production.
“A dairy cow producing 8,000 litres of milk per year produces less methane than two 4,000 litres per year per year,” said Dr Garwes, who added advances in pig and poultry genes had also led to greatly improved feed conversion and lower carbon footprints.
Dr Garwes did concede, however, that there had been slower genetic improvements in beef cattle and sheep.
Dr Ian Smith, RASE director of Agri-Science, welcomed the report and its ‘sensible defence of livestock production’.
“Grazed livestock are a key part of UK Agriculture providing the majority of the country’s dairy products and red meat and providing a key component in the management of grassland landscapes and biodiversity,” he said.
Another report published this week from WWF-UK and the Food Ethics Council backed Dr Garwes’ conclusions that efforts were being made by livestock farmers to reduce the emissions from the sector.
However, Tom MacMillan, executive director of the FEC, said more progress had to be made through further reduction in livestock numbers and changes in consumer diet.
“It is important to pursue greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the livestock sector through changes in consumption, as well as through technical abatement in production,” he said.
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Readers' comments (5)
James Tomlinson | 22 September 2009 6:14 pm
Why does Mr MacMillan feel that livestock numbers have to be reduced i would have thought we need more also why do we need to change our diet it has worked well so far
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Miranda | 22 September 2009 6:46 pm
Once ALL aircraft are grounded ( except rescue and air ambulance ) and freight is back on the railways and sea then we can perhaps look at other areas to trim. But so long as there is massive pollution from other sources this chipping at the edges is only a political agenda driven by zealots. I see no real committment to the environment from all western leaders because no-one is prepared to take the unpopular steps necessary to change our way of life. If we are to abandon a high-tech fuel driven lifestyle then I am sorry but the only viable alternative is to have locally produced food at source which does not have to travel. And that I'm afraid means more livestock not more efficient livestock. There is no point having your 8000 litre cow in an area of low population that cannot produce locally the high maintenance feed she requires ( eg northern Scotland ). What is needed is a return to traditional British livestock breeds that make the best use of the forage that grows naturally in the area they belong to. Shetland sheep in Shetland are a prime example. These animals are not considered efficient compared to say a Texel. But they are efficient if you put the Texel on their pasture !!! So, if we are to reduce food miles we must use the correct horses for the courses. Oh and talking of horses. We are going to need a lot more of them too when the oil runs out !
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Tom | 23 September 2009 10:02 am
James T; you might not have noticed, but obesity is an increasingly growing trend in our society - evidence, perhaps that our diet has not 'worked well so far'.
Miranda; Air traffic currently contributes roughly 1% of overall greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock production contributes about 18% of emissions. I agree with you about 'chipping at the edges' being an agenda driven by zealots, which is why I am more interested in reducing livestock production/emissions than I am in damning the 'evils' of flight!
You also fail to account for the option of meat-free (or meat-reduced) diets, which leaves your 'more livestock' comment rather incorrect.
Of course, your horse comment leads me to think you're probably just having a bit of fun, so I'll leave it at that!
I'm interested by Dr Garwes' claim that unfarmed land would 'change beyond recognition'. This is obviously true, but it's somewhat telling that he doesn't point out that this change would be from open grassland to forest - not exactly an awful proposition!
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Candy Spillard | 25 September 2009 12:10 pm
Staying with the "two cows" comparison here, I would think the best way of reducing total detriment to the environment would be to choose a breed which can graze outdoors for as many months of the year as possible, ideally year-round, so that no land is taken up elsewhere to grow her winter feed.
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William Houstoun | 28 September 2009 10:57 am
Once again the methane issue; Australian research has shown that one hectare of properly managed grassland soil can absorb as much methane in a day as a cow produces in a year, but it seems this does not fit the UK agenda...
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