Cattle production strategies to deliver protein with less land and lower environmental impact

Summary

This modelling study developed the Grassland Animal response Model (GLAM) to assess how different cattle production and management strategies affect land use, environmental emissions and protein output in Ireland. Displacing beef with dairy production, reducing slaughter age, and increasing grassland use efficiency were found to spare between 0.19 and 0.75 million hectares of land whilst maintaining or increasing protein output, though substantial reductions in environmental impacts required overall reductions in cattle numbers. The findings suggest potential for improved grassland and livestock management to free land for forestry and wetland restoration.

Regional applicability

This study is directly applicable to United Kingdom policy and practice, particularly Scotland and Northern Ireland where pastoral systems and land-use trade-offs mirror those in Ireland. The findings are relevant to UK climate targets and land-use policy, though English mixed and arable farming systems may face different constraints and opportunities.

Key measures

Land sparing (hectares), national protein output, greenhouse gas emissions (AFOLU sector), ammonia emissions, nutrient leaching, overseas land requirement for concentrate feed

Outcomes reported

The study modelled 10 scenarios of milk and beef production to assess land use, greenhouse gas emissions, ammonia emissions and nutrient leaching. It identified management strategies that could spare grassland whilst maintaining or increasing protein output.

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