Cows on a pasture beneath a blue sky.
Livestock methane

Helping livestock farmers cut methane emissions

The problem: Farmers and ranchers face worsening heat waves and droughts that make raising livestock harder. At the same time, cow burps and manure release methane — a potent greenhouse gas that’s speeding up climate change and making extreme weather worse. Overall, livestock farming is responsible for about a third of the methane released into the atmosphere by human activity.

What we’re doing about it: We work with top food companies, farmer organizations and policymakers to support farmers and ranchers in cutting methane while protecting jobs and food supplies. The best solutions are tailored to each farm — like better manure management, improved animal health and fewer cow burps. 

Our work speeding the transition to sustainable livestock farming

Opportunities to lower livestock methane emissions

  1. Healthy, productive animals: Improvements in cattle health, feed and breeding can optimize how much milk cattle produce and how quickly they gain weight. This improves farmers’ incomes and nutrition, particularly in lower-income countries.
  2. Better manure management: Changing how manure is stored and treated can reduce the amount of methane generated on farms and provide valuable energy and fertilizer for farms.
  3. Fewer cow burps: Enteric methane emissions, or cow burps, comprise the majority of beef and dairy greenhouse gas emissions. With additional research and development investments and policy support, we can ensure farmers and ranchers have access to a variety of solutions that reduce how much methane livestock burp as they digest their food.

Livestock methane resources

Dig deeper into our work with these resources for researchers, policymakers, journalists and communities.

Our livestock methane experts

We bring wide-ranging perspectives and skills to our work on livestock methane. Meet some of the people who make it happen.

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