Greener Cattle Initiative

Why the Greener Cattle Initiative is Needed

Methane and carbon dioxide are both greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, but as a short-lived flow gas, methane presents an opportunity for positive impact. Carbon remains in the atmosphere for upwards of 1,000 years. Methane is more powerful but remains in the atmosphere for roughly just 12 years.

Enteric methane is the single largest source of direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the beef and dairy sectors, representing 2.5 percent of total U.S. GHGs. Methane is emitted on farms through two primary sources: manure degradation and enteric fermentation, the normal digestive process which enables cattle to eat grass and fiber. While several efforts to advance the sustainability of livestock production are currently underway, most of these do not specifically address enteric methane emissions, despite the potential to improve animal productivity and move the dairy and beef sectors towards net zero emissions.

The Greener Cattle Initiative serves as a vehicle for multiple stakeholders to share knowledge and accelerate the development of scalable and commercially-feasible technologies that reduce enteric methane emissions and enable the production of sustainable beef and dairy.

By funding audacious research that reduces enteric methane emissions, the Greener Cattle Initiative can be a climate change solution that benefits producers, animals and the environment.

The Greener Cattle Initiative’s Vision

The Greener Cattle Initiative is an industry collaborative created to support research that enables enteric methane mitigation.