Reductions in NI livestock numbers have not been included in the first official plan from DAERA for meeting greenhouse gas emission targets.

Instead, the draft climate action plan, which covers the period 2023 to 2027, is focused on cutting emissions by improving efficiencies on livestock farms.

“The mitigation measures include a range of animal productivity aspects to reduce emissions while at the same time maintaining the current level of milk and meat output,” said Martin Mulholland from DAERA.

Briefing MLAs at Stormont last week, Mulholland said a key element was reducing slaughter ages, calving intervals and first calving ages on beef and suckler farms.

He dismissed the suggestion that targets within the Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme will lead to more concentrates being fed on farms, which could add to issues with phosphate levels in waterways.

Improving grassland management, silage quality, genetics and animal health were all listed as steps which will help increase growth rates in beef cattle.

“It’s entirely possible to achieve earlier aged slaughter well below the incentive targets within the scheme without increasing concentrate use,” Mulholland said.

Other measures in the draft plan include reducing fertiliser rates by making use of legumes, switching from CAN fertiliser to protected urea and use of “methane-suppressing feed products”.

CCC advice

The approach differs from advice from the UK government’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) who have recommended that to meet 2030 climate targets dairy cattle numbers in NI need to fall by 22%, beef cattle by 17%, and sheep numbers by 18%.

“The minister has been really, really clear that the advice that has been received from the CCC around mandatory reduction in livestock numbers is not something at this stage that he is taking forward,” said Patrick Savage from DAERA.

The draft plan, which is open to public consultation until 8 October 2025, includes restoring almost 9,866 hectares (ha) of peatland and planting 2,684ha of trees by 2027.

The afforestation measure is part of a wider target within DAERA to plant an extra 9,000ha of woodland in NI between 2020 and 2030.

“There is a lot of policy development work to get increased rates of afforestation to hit the 9,000ha target,” acknowledged DAERA chief scientist Dr Alistair Carson.

Mood change among MLAs for climate targets

There was a notable lack of enthusiasm among Stormont’s agriculture committee last week as DAERA officials presented the first climate action plan.

Committee chair Robbie Butler pointed out that the recent nutrients action programme proposals have led to more farmers becoming disillusioned by DAERA.

“Unfortunately, at the moment the relationship I would suggest between the minister and the farming sector is probably at its lowest point since the minister took over,” the Ulster Unionist MLA said.

Other committee members were keen to pick holes in the draft climate plan, even those who had pressed for stricter emissions targets when legislation was being developed three years ago.

“This is fine in theory, which is grand, but who’s going to pick up the pieces to make sure that our society, especially those who are more vulnerable, aren’t worse off,” said the SDLP’s Patsy McGlone.