Permanently Reshaping the National Beef Herd through Grassroots Genetic Selection for Climate-Smart Outcomes

This project seeks to establish a new Climate-Smart Commodity – namely feeder cattle sired by bulls selected on the basis of reduced enteric methane emissions and associated beef products. Enrolled ranchers would be eligible to receive incentives for each purchase of cows and select breeding bulls that produce reduced CH4 emissions and are more feed efficient by consuming less feed.

Calves from participating herds would be enrolled in an information management system which tracks the genetic, health, and production data of individual animals as they move through the beef supply chain. This would allow participating ranchers to differentiate their calves on the basis of Climate-Smart outcomes and market those calves to prospective buyers.

Partners plan to enroll underserved producers and younger, first-generation beef cattle ranching start-ups to partner, mentor, and support.