Sacred Cow: grazing, carbon storage and methane reduction

Diana Rodgers and Robb Wolf raise environmental, nutritional and ethical questions about meat. We examine grazing, trees, soil carbon and methane as distinct parts of the discussion.

A book about food production

Sacred Cow: The Case for (Better) Meat appeared in 2020 alongside the documentary. The authors argue that discussion should consider land management, feed and production conditions.

Managed grazing and recovery

Rodgers contrasts continuous access with movement through successive sections, allowing grazed plants to recover. Returning before adequate regrowth imposes different pressure. Savory’s planning accounts for forage, animal needs, seasons and changing conditions. Subdivision enables control; occupation and return times must follow actual plant growth.

Grazing and trees

Grazing alone does not establish trees. Silvopasture deliberately combines trees, forage and animals, either introducing trees into pasture or managing vegetation on wooded land, as described by the USDA Forest Service.

Tree establishment and natural regeneration need protection. Young trees can suffer browsing, rubbing and trampling. Fences, guards and appropriate access timing belong in the plan, together with survival and growth monitoring.

A soil-carbon study

Stanley and colleagues’ 2018 comparison of US multi-paddock and feedlot finishing reported about 3.59 tonnes of soil carbon gain per hectare per year over four years in the grazing system. Including this changed its finishing footprint from 9.62 to −6.65 kg CO₂-equivalent per kg carcass weight.

This concerns one phase, area and period; feedlots required about half the land. It does not establish negative footprints for every grazing system or indefinite continuation of that storage rate.

Methane is a separate question

Ruminants produce digestive methane. FAO describes effects of feed quantity and quality, animal condition and husbandry. Improved grazing and more digestible feed are among reduction options.

Distinguish total emissions from emissions per unit of product. Higher productivity can reduce methane per kg meat or milk without reducing herd totals. Soil storage can improve net climate balance without reducing digestive methane.

Our field work

We plan to investigate local livestock conditions and producer partnerships. Any olive grove trial must consider forage, water, tree protection and animal needs, with baseline and repeated measurements under a documented protocol.

Sources and further reading

← Back to Regenerative News