Suckler Beef Climate Change Group - Farm Carbon Case Studies

J Bell; CB Beaton; MM McDowell; GJ Hill; DS Stout; AS Sellars; SG Thomson; M Spencer; Andrew P Moxey

Suckler Beef Climate Change Group - Farm Carbon Case Studies

J Bell^*
, CB Beaton
, MM McDowell
, GJ Hill
, DS Stout
, AS Sellars
, SG Thomson
, M Spencer
, Andrew P Moxey

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book/Report/Policy Brief/Technical Brief › Commissioned report

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Abstract

The study supported the work of the Scottish Government’s Suckler Beef Climate Group, chaired by Jim Walker by assessing the potential for carbon emission reductions on ‘Average’ Scottish suckler beef farms through the adoption of a range of technical improvements and carbon mitigation measures. The study used SRUC's AgReCalc carbon foot printing tool.
(ii) In this analysis, work was focused on the Breeder-Finisher units as this farming system encompasses the complete beef production chain from breeding through to slaughter. Details of the main assumptions, data sources and references are included in this report.
(iii) The results of the farming system modelling exercise indicate that by implementing a series of measures, in sequence, there is the potential for Rearer Finisher units to cut carbon emissions by up to 37.6% from the defined baseline level.
(iv) In the sequential or “stacked” scenarios below, the measures which generated the greatest reductions in carbon emissions included:
o Reducing age at slaughter to 18 months,
o Reducing age at first calving from 3yrs to 2yrs,
o Improving grassland management,
o Use of nitrification inhibitors in artificial fertiliser.

Original language	English
Publisher	The Scottish Government
Commissioning body	Scottish Government
Number of pages	51
Publication status	First published - 18 Jan 2021

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 2 Zero Hunger
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

AgReCalc
Greenhouse gas emission
Suckler beef
Suckler Beef Climate Group
rearer-finisher
emissions reductions
reduced age at first calving
finishing age
calves reared
methane inhibitors
N2O and CH4 emission
heifers
reduced cow weight
grassland management
manure and nutrient management
bull beef
carbon footprint
beef efficiency
targeted actions

Access to Document

Suckler Beef Climate Change Group Farm Carbon Case Studies Final published version, 2.49 MB

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/independent-report/2021/01/suckler-beef-climate-scheme-final-report-2/documents/low-carbon-beef-case-study/low-carbon-beef-case-study/govscot%3Adocument/low-carbon-beef-case-study.pdf

Cite this

Bell, J., Beaton, CB., McDowell, MM., Hill, GJ., Stout, DS., Sellars, AS., Thomson, SG., Spencer, M., & Moxey, A. P. (2021). Suckler Beef Climate Change Group - Farm Carbon Case Studies. The Scottish Government. Advance online publication. https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/independent-report/2021/01/suckler-beef-climate-scheme-final-report-2/documents/low-carbon-beef-case-study/low-carbon-beef-case-study/govscot%3Adocument/low-carbon-beef-case-study.pdf

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abstract = "The study supported the work of the Scottish Government{\textquoteright}s Suckler Beef Climate Group, chaired by Jim Walker by assessing the potential for carbon emission reductions on {\textquoteleft}Average{\textquoteright} Scottish suckler beef farms through the adoption of a range of technical improvements and carbon mitigation measures. The study used SRUC's AgReCalc carbon foot printing tool. (ii) In this analysis, work was focused on the Breeder-Finisher units as this farming system encompasses the complete beef production chain from breeding through to slaughter. Details of the main assumptions, data sources and references are included in this report. (iii) The results of the farming system modelling exercise indicate that by implementing a series of measures, in sequence, there is the potential for Rearer Finisher units to cut carbon emissions by up to 37.6\% from the defined baseline level. (iv) In the sequential or “stacked” scenarios below, the measures which generated the greatest reductions in carbon emissions included: o Reducing age at slaughter to 18 months, o Reducing age at first calving from 3yrs to 2yrs, o Improving grassland management, o Use of nitrification inhibitors in artificial fertiliser.",

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author = "J Bell and CB Beaton and MM McDowell and GJ Hill and DS Stout and AS Sellars and SG Thomson and M Spencer and Moxey, \{Andrew P\}",

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Bell, J, Beaton, CB, McDowell, MM , Hill, GJ, Stout, DS, Sellars, AS, Thomson, SG, Spencer, M & Moxey, AP 2021, Suckler Beef Climate Change Group - Farm Carbon Case Studies. The Scottish Government. <https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/independent-report/2021/01/suckler-beef-climate-scheme-final-report-2/documents/low-carbon-beef-case-study/low-carbon-beef-case-study/govscot%3Adocument/low-carbon-beef-case-study.pdf>

TY - BOOK

T1 - Suckler Beef Climate Change Group - Farm Carbon Case Studies

AU - Bell, J

AU - Beaton, CB

AU - McDowell, MM

AU - Hill, GJ

AU - Stout, DS

AU - Sellars, AS

AU - Thomson, SG

AU - Spencer, M

AU - Moxey, Andrew P

PY - 2021/1/18

Y1 - 2021/1/18

N2 - The study supported the work of the Scottish Government’s Suckler Beef Climate Group, chaired by Jim Walker by assessing the potential for carbon emission reductions on ‘Average’ Scottish suckler beef farms through the adoption of a range of technical improvements and carbon mitigation measures. The study used SRUC's AgReCalc carbon foot printing tool. (ii) In this analysis, work was focused on the Breeder-Finisher units as this farming system encompasses the complete beef production chain from breeding through to slaughter. Details of the main assumptions, data sources and references are included in this report. (iii) The results of the farming system modelling exercise indicate that by implementing a series of measures, in sequence, there is the potential for Rearer Finisher units to cut carbon emissions by up to 37.6% from the defined baseline level. (iv) In the sequential or “stacked” scenarios below, the measures which generated the greatest reductions in carbon emissions included: o Reducing age at slaughter to 18 months, o Reducing age at first calving from 3yrs to 2yrs, o Improving grassland management, o Use of nitrification inhibitors in artificial fertiliser.

AB - The study supported the work of the Scottish Government’s Suckler Beef Climate Group, chaired by Jim Walker by assessing the potential for carbon emission reductions on ‘Average’ Scottish suckler beef farms through the adoption of a range of technical improvements and carbon mitigation measures. The study used SRUC's AgReCalc carbon foot printing tool. (ii) In this analysis, work was focused on the Breeder-Finisher units as this farming system encompasses the complete beef production chain from breeding through to slaughter. Details of the main assumptions, data sources and references are included in this report. (iii) The results of the farming system modelling exercise indicate that by implementing a series of measures, in sequence, there is the potential for Rearer Finisher units to cut carbon emissions by up to 37.6% from the defined baseline level. (iv) In the sequential or “stacked” scenarios below, the measures which generated the greatest reductions in carbon emissions included: o Reducing age at slaughter to 18 months, o Reducing age at first calving from 3yrs to 2yrs, o Improving grassland management, o Use of nitrification inhibitors in artificial fertiliser.

KW - AgReCalc

KW - Greenhouse gas emission

KW - Suckler beef

KW - Suckler Beef Climate Group

KW - rearer-finisher

KW - emissions reductions

KW - reduced age at first calving

KW - finishing age

KW - calves reared

KW - methane inhibitors

KW - N2O and CH4 emission

KW - heifers

KW - reduced cow weight

KW - grassland management

KW - manure and nutrient management

KW - bull beef

KW - carbon footprint

KW - beef efficiency

KW - targeted actions

UR - https://www.gov.scot/publications/suckler-beef-climate-scheme-research-papers/

M3 - Commissioned report

BT - Suckler Beef Climate Change Group - Farm Carbon Case Studies

PB - The Scottish Government

ER -

Suckler Beef Climate Change Group - Farm Carbon Case Studies

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Estimated Suckler Beef Climate Scheme effect within the National GHG ‘Smart’ Inventory

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Structure and Efficiency of the Scottish Beef Herd - Cattle Tracing System Insights

Cite this