UFU slates attempts by officials to cut cow numbers in Northern Ireland

Suggested cuts to livestock numbers in Northern Ireland will significantly impact pasture-based livestock production without reducing global emissions because more meat and dairy would be imported from overseas, says the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU).

Agriculture accounts for about 27% of NI’s greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce this the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) wants 22% fewer dairy cattle by 2030.

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Beef cattle numbers would also need fall by 17% and sheep, pigs and poultry by 18% to reduce emissions, it says.

Daera has been consulting on these proposals, which draw on the recommendations of the UK Climate Change Committee, for several weeks, though says improvements in bovine productivity could deliver a share of the desired emissions reductions.

But the UFU has strongly opposed the plans.

UFU president David Brown insists that cutting livestock numbers would not alter consumer demand for dairy and meat.

“It will result in products produced to lower standards being imported to replace what we can no longer produce,” he suggested.

If this happened, NI wouldn’t be playing its part in tackling climate change, but instead “passing the buck”.

“We would be putting countries that have higher emissions from food production and are working to feed a growing global population, under pressure to produce more food,” said Mr Brown.

A balance needed to be struck between sustainable food production and climate action to prevent carbon leakage, he added.

“Government needs to step outside its bubble and wake up to the social and economic impact its net-zero targets in NI will create at home and abroad.”

Daera said the views of consultees would be considered to help inform decisions on the appropriate emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2040.