While there is no such thing as good climate change legislation for people producing ruminant livestock, there was quiet satisfaction in Brussels that Ireland has got as good a deal as it could. The base year of 2005 at the height of the Celtic Tiger is favourable as it is achieving the maximum 5.6% allowable to offset against emissions from our forestry which acts as a carbon sink.

Further evidence of why we should be relatively satisfied comes in the reaction of Irish farm organisations and indeed Copa Cogeca, the EU-based collective farmers-based organisation, either welcoming or accepting the proposals, with the environmental based NGO’s critical.

We have to move to a system of getting the maximum milk, lamb and beef from livestock in the minimum time

Reality

Of course the reality is that Irish livestock farmers have to work to minimise the emissions from our beef, milk and indeed sheep production. The reality is that the longer the animal is around the greater the emissions from it. We have to move to a system of getting the maximum milk, lamb and beef from livestock in the minimum time. With our BDGP programme we are on the road to identifying and developing the maximum efficiency in production and the positive from reducing emissions from livestock that the biggest contribution of all comes from efficiency of production.

Working together collectively

Ireland needs farmers and industry working together collectively to achieve this ideal outcome. It won’t be achieved by factories unilaterally declaring age and weight limits and imposing penal cuts that annoy farmers and fail to achieve the objective because they are so arbitrary and ditched as soon as cattle supplies tighten. Maximising efficiency of production involves our researchers identifying how best to get the kilo of beef and lamb or litre of milk and devising a system to deliver that. We have the opportunity with this climate change proposal to develop and implement this and it has to be treated as an opportunity because climate change legislation is something we are going to have to live with.

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