Guest Post by Ashley Schilling Hazlett, 2024-2025 Sustainability Leadership Fellow and Ph.D. Student in the Department of Animal Sciences and CSU AgNext at Colorado State University
The role of cattle in climate change has been an important topic for decades, sparking debate among scientists, producers, policymakers, and consumers. Beginning with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) release of the report “Livestock’s Long Shadow” in 2006, the totality of the contribution of cattle to livelihoods, food security, and ecosystem services has been questioned when contrasted with their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental equilibrium. The truth behind this contention is that cattle have an environmental impact, both positive and negative. This notion incentivizes and encourages a growth mindset geared toward continuous improvement and supply chain innovation moving into the future. Future research should exist in symbiosis with stakeholders in order to integrate the positive environmental contributions of cattle to fully recognize the potential of beef as a sustainable protein that nourishes a growing population and consider the applicability of implementing innovations into supply chains.
Globally, livestock are responsible for approximately 14.5% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (Gerber et al., 2013). A primary concern regarding cattle and climate change is methane emissions from enteric fermentation and manure management. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), enteric fermentation from cattle accounts for approximately 26% of total U.S. methane emissions (EPA, 2022). Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential of approximately 28 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 100-year time horizon (IPCC, 2021). Another concern regarding the environmental impact of cattle is the contribution to deforestation and habitat destruction primarily in tropical regions, like the Amazon rainforest, where land has historically been converted from forested land to pastures for grazing (Margulis, 2004; Gibbs et al., 2010). Deforestation not only threatens biodiversity and disrupts ecosystems but can also increase carbon losses and reduce the capacity for carbon sequestration (Macedo et al., 2012). Beyond grazing environments, improper management in confined cattle management systems has been reported to lead to soil degradation and water pollution due to runoff from manure, further exacerbating environmental issues (Gerber et al., 2013).
Despite these challenges, there are positive environmental, economic, and social contributions from cattle production that should be included in the broader discussion of sustainability. Cattle serve an important role in agricultural systems by utilizing marginal land often unsuitable for other forms of agriculture. Additionally, cattle contribute to nutrient cycling, as their manure can enhance soil fertility and structure. When managed properly, grazing cattle can promote ecosystem and soil health, improving carbon sequestration and biodiversity, and potentially offsetting emissions associated with cattle production (Teague et al., 2016; Dumont et al., 2018). Cattle also have a unique ability to upcycle nutrients, transforming inedible plant materials that are not digestible by humans into high-quality protein sources. Moreover, cattle utilize by-products from other industries (corn ethanol, for example) as feed, which extends the lifecycle of a resource and increases resource efficiency, promoting circular economies.
Cattle production is often a cornerstone of rural economies, providing livelihoods for many communities and promoting local economies (Ritchie and Roser, 2020). The FAO has conducted research that specifically highlights livestock, including cattle, as a crucial asset for rural women, leading to increased income generation by 30% or more, while also enhancing food security and social status (FAO, 2011). In Sub-Saharan Africa, women who own livestock are better able to cope with economic shocks, improving overall resiliency against poverty and enabling women to invest in education, health, and other essential areas for their families (World Bank, 2019). Cattle are not only central to the livelihoods of many communities globally from an economic perspective, but many cultures have longstanding traditions, values, and histories involving cattle that shape their cultural identities and social structures (McGowan, 2018). Therefore, when considering the sustainability of a production system it is important to conceptualize the holistic impacts and understand where there are knowledge gaps, areas for continuous improvement, and potential for tradeoffs and unintended consequences when implementing innovations and enacting change.
Researching sustainable solutions in cattle production systems that balance environmental health with economic and social needs is a necessary next step for progressing the future of animal agriculture. A specific research group that is dedicated to this charge is a new initiative at Colorado State University, CSU AgNext. CSU AgNext was envisioned to work in partnership with industry to progress and innovate applied and impactful solutions to the greatest challenges to help move the industry toward a more sustainable and resilient future. Areas of research include dairy systems, feedlot systems, agriculture economics, grazing and rangeland management, life cycle assessment, and greenhouse gas mitigation. This research group is also dedicated to having critical and transparent conversations that provide a balanced perspective on the multi-faceted nature of assessing the sustainability of cattle production systems. The discussion around cattle and climate change highlights the complexity of agricultural systems and the values we place in our food system. While cattle contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, there is a pathway forward to mitigate this impact. As research continues to evolve, it is crucial to seek balanced solutions that acknowledge both the challenges and opportunities presented by cattle in the context of climate change to promote environmental, economic, and social optimization that will enhance supply chain resiliency and a more sustainable future.
References
Dumont, B., et al. (2018). “The role of livestock in sustainable land management: A review.” Animal, 12(3), 547-558.
EPA. (2022). Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2020. Environmental Protection Agency.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2011). “The State of Food and Agriculture 2010-2011: Women in Agriculture – Closing the Gender Gap for Development.” FAO Report.
Gerber, P. J., et al. (2013). Tackling Climate Change Through Livestock: A Global Assessment of Emissions and Mitigation Opportunities. Food and Agriculture Organization.
Gibbs, H. K., et al. (2010). “Tropical forests were lost in the 1980s and 1990s, and most of the clearing was due to pasture.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(28), 13183-13187.
IPCC. (2021). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press.
Macedo, M. N., et al. (2012). “Land-use change and carbon emissions in the Brazilian Amazon.” Global Change Biology, 18(7), 2272-2284.
Margulis, S. (2004). “Causes of Deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest.” World Bank.
McGowan, J. (2018). Cattle and Culture: The Role of Livestock in Shaping Identity and Heritage. Journal of Ethnobiology, 38(2), 230-245.
Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2020). “Meat and Dairy Production.” Our World in Data.
Teague, W. R., et al. (2016). “The role of ruminants in reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint: A review of the literature.” Animal Production Science, 56(9), 1633-1646.
World Bank Group. 2019. Women, Business and the Law 2019: A Decade of Reform. World Bank, Washington, DC.