Regenerative livestock farming

Regenerative livestock farming applies the principles of regenerative agriculture to the management of animals, mainly through managed grazing. The goal is for the presence of livestock to improve the soil and pastures rather than degrade them, mimicking the movement patterns of large herbivores in nature.

The central tool is holistic and rotational grazing: animals are concentrated on small plots for short periods and then moved, leaving the vegetation to rest for weeks. Well managed, this rest can support the recovery of pastures, greater soil cover and the build-up of organic matter.

Soil and carbon sequestration

By improving plant cover and organic matter, managed grazing can increase carbon sequestration in the soil, helping grasslands act as carbon sinks. This is the basis for the idea of livestock farming that delivers benefits to natural capital and fits within nature-based solutions, while also improving water retention and pasture biodiversity.

The enteric methane challenge

The main climate impact of ruminant livestock is enteric methane, a greenhouse gas produced during digestion in cattle, sheep and goats. It is the most significant source of emissions in the livestock sector, and regenerative grazing does not eliminate it. It can be partly managed through forage quality and composition, stocking rates and other management measures, but methane remains inherent to raising ruminants.

A net balance under debate

There is an open scientific debate about the net emissions balance of regenerative livestock farming. The underlying question is whether the carbon sequestered in soil offsets the methane and other emissions from the animals. The available evidence is mixed and worth knowing:

• Soil carbon sequestration can be temporary and reversible, and tends to saturate after a few years, once the soil reaches a new equilibrium.
• When the soil stops capturing additional carbon, those lands can behave again as a net source of emissions.
• The most recent scientific reviews are cautious about the ability of these practices to durably offset enteric methane, and stress the need for more long-term data.

For that reason, claims of “climate-positive livestock” should be treated carefully and backed by measurement, avoiding overstating the effect on the carbon footprint.

What it offers a company

For food companies with livestock in their supply chain, regenerative practices can improve soil health, pasture condition, animal welfare and resilience to drought, as well as offering additional environmental benefits. Their real climate contribution, however, must be measured case by case and not assumed from the label.

Measure the impact with Manglai

At Manglai we help quantify the environmental impact of farming activity with verifiable data, including methane and value-chain emissions. Talk to our team to measure your footprint rigorously.