How healthier farm animals can cut greenhouse gas emissions
When a dairy cow miscarries, a farmer loses far more than an unborn calf. Feed has been grown, land and water have been used, and greenhouse gases have been released during the cow's pregnancy, but milk production, a future animal and income are lost.
Dairy cows face losses beyond the loss of an unborn calf when they miscarry. The waste of feed, land, water, and greenhouse gases like methane during pregnancy equals lost milk production, a future animal, and income. Methane is emitted through enteric fermentation in a cow's stomach and released into the atmosphere. Healthier animals produce more milk or meat, which lowers emissions per unit of output.
Research on livestock diseases in cows, goats, and sheep shows that preventing disease can enhance growth, milk production, fertility, and survival. Yet, evidence is not strong enough to confidently include animal health in climate policies. Different studies use various assumptions and estimates rather than direct measurements of emissions.
A new project called Halow, supported by the Global Methane Hub, aims to test if improved animal health results in genuine climate benefits. The priorities for livestock farming vary globally, with wealthier countries aiming to reduce excess consumption and emissions, while poorer countries focus on improving access to nutritious food.
Preventing animal deaths or suboptimal production could provide more food and income from existing resources. Reducing calf mortality in Tanzania and Kenya can lower emissions per kilogram of milk or beef, but total methane emissions may increase due to greater survival and production. Climate policy should consider absolute emissions, food security, and livelihoods together.
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