Feeding Cows Different Food Could Lower Their Emissions by 30 Percent

Emissions from livestock can be cut by 30 percent just by adopting better farming practices, according to a new report by the U.N.

The report, published Thursday by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, found that using better, more easily-digestible feeds can reduce the amount of methane generated by ruminants like cows, and that better breeding techniques and maintenance of animals’ health can also reduce the numbers of unproductive animals in a herd. In addition, better soil management on grazing lands can increase the pasture’s ability to act as a carbon sink.

Feeding Cows Different Food Could Lower Their Emissions by 30 Percent