A major focus in a new cross-border beef research project will be to find practical ways to reduce methane emissions from ruminant animals.

Launched last Thursday, CliBeef (Climate Friendly Beef Production) is a four-year project led by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), in partnership with Teagasc, Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and AgriSearch.

The €5.7m project has received funding from the PEACEPLUS programme, with 12 participating beef farmers equally split either side of the border.

Explaining the background at the launch event, project lead Dr Francis Lively from AFBI outlined how current accounting systems suggest around one third of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are due to agriculture. Within the agriculture total, nearly two-thirds is enteric fermentation (methane) from ruminant animals.

Various practical changes will help reduce methane emissions per kg of beef output, including improved cow fertility, better grassland management, use of higher quality silage and animal genetics.

However, Lively maintained that one of the main aims of the project is to see “what other wins we can get”. Potentially that comes from manipulating diets, whether by use of methane-suppressing feed additives or incorporation of different crops on farms. Previous work has shown that cattle grazing on multi-species swards (MSS) have lower methane emissions, while a QUB / AFBI study reported in 2025 observed a 27% reduction in methane for steers grazing on willow versus perennial ryegrass swards. The researchers concluded the reduction was due to very high natural condensed tannins in the leaf of the willow which interrupt the formation of methane in the rumen of a cow.

Stages

In the CliBeef project, researchers at QUB will look to identify novel feeds, combinations of different varieties and crops, as well as different feeding methods that potentially lower methane emissions in a lab environment. The next stage is to evaluate those potential interventions in controlled research conditions either at Teagasc Grange (suckler beef) or at AFBI Hillsborough (dairy origin beef), before potential roll out on participating farms. Each farm will work alongside AgriSearch, who will be responsible for disseminating results and learnings to other farmers.

“The overall objective is to reduce GHG from beef production by delivering and demonstrating practical measures that farmers can realistically adopt on farm,” said Lively.

In the case of novel crops that means they must be easily integrated into a grazing system, be palatable and have no negative impact on animal health and performance, nor on meat quality or safety.

When it comes to feed additives, to date, most have been evaluated indoors via a Total Mixed Ration (TMR). “We know most sucklers have a lick bucket in the field or could we put something through the water? There are some options out there. We hope we do find solutions. If you don’t look, you won’t find,” the AFBI researcher added.

He also maintained that the main focus will be on finding feed additives that are “a local natural product”.