Measuring and Mitigating GHGs: Beef

The report examines the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of beef production, highlighting that emissions vary drastically by region and production system, ranging from 16 to 360 kg CO2e/kg edible meat. It identifies enteric fermentation, feed production, and land-use change as the primary emission drivers, while noting that well-managed grazing lands can act as carbon sinks. The document outlines mitigation strategies including improved feed digestibility, rotational grazing, and feed additives, estimating a total global mitigation potential between 0.67 and 2.55 GtCO2e/yr.

• Beef has the highest average global emissions intensity per kilogram of all meats, with over 80% of these emissions occurring during the production phase. Global estimates for GHG emissions range from 16 to 360 kg CO2e/kg edible weight (EW), with an average of approximately 76 kg CO2e/kg EW.
• Emissions vary significantly by production system: grass-based systems average 95 kg CO2e/kg EW, mixed farming systems average 58 kg CO2e/kg EW, and cattle in feedlots produce meat at 21 kg CO2e/kg EW. Beef from beef herds generally has higher GHG intensity than beef from dairy herds, as dairy emissions are shared with milk production.
• Feed and land-use change (LUC) are major emission drivers. In Latin America, over half of the emissions from grassland cattle feed (25 kg CO2e/kg EW) result from pasture expansion. Global LUC for cattle is a significant source, contributing between 0.39 and 1.65 GtCO2e/yr depending on the estimation model used.
• Enteric fermentation is a primary source of methane, with global intensity estimated between 22-26 kg CO2e/kg EW. These emissions vary by geography, ranging from 11 kg CO2e/kg EW in Eastern Europe to 76 kg CO2e/kg EW in South Asia, driven by factors such as feed digestibility and animal age at slaughter.
• Grazing lands have the potential for carbon sequestration, which can mitigate overall emissions. Global mitigation potential for soil carbon sequestration in beef grazing systems is estimated at 0.04-0.8 GtCO2/yr, with specific rates in the US Northern Great Plains between 0.4 and 0.5 tC/ha/yr.
• The total global carbon mitigation potential for beef production is estimated between 0.67 and 2.55 GtCO2e/yr. The highest potential gains come from improved grazing management, improved feed digestibility, and avoided land-use change through intensification.

APA

Kim, D., Burns, M., Moberg, E., & Thoma, G. (2022). Measuring and Mitigating GHGs: Beef. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/108/5dhaztmhjq_MOBERG_GHG_Brief_BEEF_06_22_v3.pdf

Chicago

Kim, Daesoo, Max Burns, Emily Moberg, and Greg Thoma. Measuring and Mitigating GHGs: Beef. WWF International, 2022. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/108/5dhaztmhjq_MOBERG_GHG_Brief_BEEF_06_22_v3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kim |first1=Daesoo |last2=Burns |first2=Max |last3=Moberg |first3=Emily |last4=Thoma |first4=Greg |title=Measuring and Mitigating GHGs: Beef |publisher=WWF International |date=18 September 2022 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/108/5dhaztmhjq_MOBERG_GHG_Brief_BEEF_06_22_v3.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kim2022measuring, author = {Kim, Daesoo and Burns, Max and Moberg, Emily and Thoma, Greg}, title = {{Measuring and Mitigating GHGs: Beef}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2022}, month = sep, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/108/5dhaztmhjq_MOBERG_GHG_Brief_BEEF_06_22_v3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }