Webinar: Lower emissions, improve grass performance

Part of Performance plus sustainability: The Climate Smart Series, this expert-led webinar explores how to enhance energy efficiency and reduce emissions using Aber High Sugar Grasses and grassland best practices – all while increasing livestock production. Watch Dr Mary McEvoy, William Fleming and Harley Brown-Keech share their expertise.  

Emissions Q&A

How is methane measured on a farm level? How do the researchers measure this? 

It’s not possible to measure it on-farm, but on research farms there is a lot of work ongoing in this area.  

For grazing animals, the GreenFeed emission monitoring systems are now widely used. These are non-invasive and measure enteric methane from the animal’s breath. A small amount of concentrate is dispensed to encourage the animal to enter the system and remain there for a few minutes to measure emissions. These can be mobile devices, so can move from paddock to paddock to follow the grazing rotation.  

If agricultural soils are the second biggest contributor to GHG, what changes can we make to our farming systems to manage this without impacting production? 

Matching nutrient inputs to plant growth requirements and maintaining a young healthy sward is essential for optimising growth.  

Addressing soil pH issues can help reduce emissions and improve production. By optimising soil pH, up to 70kg of nitrogen already present in the soil becomes available. Where soils are at their optimum, we can achieve more value from applied fertilisers.  

Including clover in swards offers other options. With 25-30% clover content, we can reduce nitrogen use and in turn, lower nitrous oxide emissions, all without negatively impacting grass growth. Research has shown that animal grazing on grass-clover swards can yield higher milk solids. This provides a clear benefit to farm performance by reducing inputs and emissions.  

Does PKE feed count as a lipid? 

Palm Kernel Epeller (PKE) has a high crude protein content and medium energy levels, so doesn’t count as a lipid source. 

In Ireland, we have always had mixes that include Aber grasses but they aren’t the only grasses in the mix. To get the benefit of the high sugar WSC, do I need to have only Aber grasses in the bag? 

Yes, ideally, if we include more Aber High Sugar Grasses (Aber HSG) in the diet, it provides greater benefits to the animal. The new Climate Smart Clean range only contains Aber HSG varieties, so exploring this range could be a good option for you. 

Are high sugar grasses included in multi-species mixes that comply with the multi-species swards measure (MSSM) in Ireland? 

Yes, in our Climate Smart Restore Range, we have a mixture for the MSSM measure from DAFM, which contaisn AberGain and AberChoice, both Aber High Sugar Grasses.  

With both dairy and beef cows in Ireland declining, how long do you think it will be before we see a reduction in GHG emissions?  

This will be a long-term effect, as it will depend on what replaces the land previously grazed by these cattle.  

If the national herd decreases, then the methane emissions will also decrease. Fewer animals in the national herd will result in less methane produced. Reducing GHG emissions, will require a number of measures to be adapted on farm, including more clover in our swards to allow a reduction in nitrogen use, improved slurry management, adaption of LESS,  correcting pH deficiencies, improved grazing management and improved animal performance, such as a reduced age to slaughter will all have a role to play.  

There is no silver bullet, but by implementing measures today, we can start to see a reduction relatively quickly. For example, in Ireland, the reduction in N fertiliser use, in 2023 and 2024 have already been shown to have a reduction in Agriculture related GHG in the national inventory published by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) as they produce reports on an annual basis.