1. Life Beef Carbon - Ireland
Donal O’Brien and Jonathan Herron
Livestock Systems Research Department, AGRIC, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy,
Co.Cork Ireland
SPACE, Rennes, September 2018
2. Beef Carbon and Better Beef Farms
• Ireland’s LIFE Beef Carbon project is
working with farmers part of the
Teagasc/IFJ Better Beef program to:
– Monitor the effect of Better Farm challenges
(mitigation strategies) on beef carbon footprint
– Assess farms ecological and economic
sustainability
• Over 20 innovative Irish Better Beef farms
are involved in the project
– Represent typical beef farming systems e.g.,
suckler to store, dairy calf to beef, store to beef
– Quality assured and part of Origin Green
3. Farms Actions
• Innovative Better Beef Farms have selected
challenges/actions to tackle farm profit and carbon
footprint including:
– Enhance soil fertility
– Improve grass utilization
– Breed high genetic merit cattle
– Optimize calving rate (1 calf/cow)
– Reduce finishing age
• Carbon footprints are computed using Carbon Audit tool
– Computations use detailed information from Herdbooks, Teagasc
profit monitor, farm measurements and surveys
– Harmonized with partners models but adapted to Ireland
• Profitability is quantified using the Teagasc profit monitor
4. Irish Better Beef Case Study
• Case study Suckler to beef
farm successfully
implemented actions to
improve efficiency and output
– Sustainable intensification
• Reduced net footprint 15%
and increased profitability
• Further carbon reductions will
be challenging
– Less potential to increase
productivity
– Alternative strategies require
financial support
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Carbonfootprint
(kgCO2e/kgLWG)
Gross Net
-18%
-15%
5. Next Steps
• Carbon footprint of 100 demonstrative Irish beef farms
will be compared to Innovative Better Beef farms
• Representative sample will be used for demonstrative
farms in 2017/18 and 2020
– Irish National farm survey (FADN)
• Further actions to improve farm productivity and
reduce carbon emissions will be considered
– Low emission slurry spreaders e.g., trailing hose or shoe
– Land use strategies e.g., planting hedgerows
• Impact of “new” actions on carbon will be monitored in
2019 and 2020
6. Thanks for your attention
Questions?
Acknowledgements EU LIFE and Better
Beef Program
