American Lamb Board
(Previously published online with the American Lamb Board: December 14, 2023)
(Image Source: Greenhouse gas mitigation strategies for the US sheep industry – Summary; Erin Recktenwald and Richard Ehrhardt, Michigan State University)
A new resource outlines best practices for the US sheep industry to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The resource summarizes findings in a landmark Environmental Footprint Study by Michigan State University (MSU).
Many of the suggested practices align with the Lamb Crop Best Practices developed to improve on-farm productivity and profitability. Reducing lamb loss, breeding ewes earlier, and optimal nutrition practices are all areas where producers can maximize productivity while reducing GHG emissions.
“It’s encouraging that producers can implement sound practices that have been proven to help with productivity while reducing our environmental footprint,” said ALB Chairman Peter Comino, Buffalo, WY. “US sheep producers have long been stewards of the land, but seeing strategies that make sense for both productivity and sustainability is encouraging.”
Additional strategies to minimize GHG emissions include:
-
Proper fertilizer use
-
Improved manure management
-
The use of renewable resources
-
Adopting new grazing opportunities
The full report and the summary can be downloaded on the LambBoard.com website or by emailing rae@americanlamb.com
Editors Note: Trust me folks, the summary is well worth the read. It’s a quick two page infographic with key production parameters that we as producers should already be targeting.