Update on the Future of Beef

In July and August 2024, we published a series of articles on our website, reviewing the future prospects for beef production in the changing agricultural environment [1]. As we showed then, beef often carries a heavy burden when methane emissions from agriculture are being considered but we also demonstrated that valid comparisons can only be made when comparing “apples” with “apples”. Extensive grassland fed beef production is a very different beast to the intensive product originating from soya fuelled feedlots.

This article will provide some further updates on the changing beef situation as new technology impacts on the production of red meat.

One interesting development is research work to test  the use of vaccines on methane output from beef cattle. The method  seeks to immunise cattle, so that the numbers of methane generating bugs (methanogens) in the rumen, are considerably reduced or potentially eliminated. Vaccines have the advantage of a simple administration process, with no need for daily treatment. With 75% of cattle methane output originating from grass fed cattle, a successful vaccine would be a valuable tool in the race to reduce methane emissions. One trial recently announced by the Bezos Earth Fund, will work with the Royal Veterinary College and Pirbright Institute to look at issues central to a successful vaccination project, including the age at which methanogens colonise the digestive tract of cattle and existing antigen responses [2].

A trial recently published in the Journal of Animal Science [3] has established the potential for a successful vaccine. The carefully controlled trial monitored food intake and weight of Angus Steers and showed a significant reduction of emitted methane, which was linked to a vaccine-stimulated rise in IGg antibody levels, following booster vaccination. 

Similar work has been happening in New Zealand for some years. In September a major investment of NZ$13.5m in the next phase of a vaccine research project was announced by AgriZeroNZ [4]. AgriZeroNZ is a joint venture between the New Zealand government and a number of private investors. The funding will support the next stage of vaccine development.

In total, the NZ agricultural sector has invested over NZ$40 million (US$22.5) to date, in methane vaccine related projects [5].

Methane inhibitors, additives which reduce the amount of methane produced by digestion in the animal’s rumen, have also increased in prominence in recent years. Indeed, one trial in dairy cattle in the UK took social media by storm, as customers protested by pouring milk, which did not contain any methane inhibitor, down their kitchen drains. Dairy cows fed complete diets can be supplemented with methane inhibitors relatively easily; it is much more difficult to treat beef cattle at grass. 

One alternative to vaccination for grass fed cattle is the application of a long term treatment using a rumen bolus, a capsule given by mouth, which settles in the rumen to slowly release the methane inhibiting compound. The above-mentioned New Zealand company, AgriZeroNZ, has also announced a significant step up in their investment in this area. As their bolus product reaches the final stages of trial, the company has invested a further NZ$4m in the bolus, which has claimed a 75% reduction in methane output over the 100 day treatment period. The technology is being developed by Ruminant BioTech, who are currently working with MPI on product registration and hope to bring the product to market late in 2025 [6]. 

In this flurry of scientific activity it is often easy to forget the overall picture. While many commentators agree that the western world can reduce its beef consumption, there will still be a need for high quality, iron and vitamin rich, protein in a growing world population. When produced from grass in extensive or regenerative systems, methane enters a carbon cycle which is biogenic and which has been revolving for millions of years. Some of the carbon atoms burped as methane into the atmosphere of a grassland based beef farm yesterday, were previously eructated by large ruminants grazing savannah hundreds of thousands of years ago.

So while the application of sensible science to reduce the output of methane per kilo of beef is to be encouraged, the primary target must remain the reduction of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels which were dragged out of the ground over the last few hundred years.