Livestock sector resilience plan

Member opportunities

• There are huge opportunities in the livestock sector to increase productivity through better use of data: for example, through business KPIs or carcase feedback from the meat processors.
• Focussing on livestock genetics and embracing new genomic technology while utilising performance data, such as feed efficiency and live weight gain, would help improve productivity.

Barriers

• Data collection is very inconsistent in the sector currently, with no central way for food chain or animal performance information to be collated or passed up and down the supply chain.
• There needs to be clarity over what data provides the best results for improving efficiencies. The industry would benefit from a list of key KPIs that work together to accurately and easily benchmark business performance.

NFU asks

• A new multi-species LIS (Livestock Information Service) to allow non-statutory information, for example, live weight gain, and dam and sire registrations, to be collected and reported for individual producers.
• Supply chain support on transferring data up and down the supply chain, especially abattoir feedback (CCIR: collection and communication of inspection results).
• Knowledge exchange on new breeding techniques and genetics available.
• Productivity schemes and data collection technology to quantify the productivity improvements available through the Agricultural Transition Plan, for example the Farming Equipment Technology Fund.

Measures

• LIS delivery.
• Uptake in genomics and EBVs.
• High uptake of performance data analysis on farm.

Increasing productivity on farm through AHW (animal health and welfare)

Member opportunities

• Funding is currently available through the Government’s Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. The Pathway covers the cost of an annual vet visit with a vet of their choice to discuss biosecurity, medicine usage, and bespoke health and welfare actions unique to their farms. The Pathway has recently been extended to include endemic disease services, such as BVD.
• Increasing production output and reducing mortality and morbidity.
• The Medicine Hub and its gathered data is invaluable in providing measures for on-farm antibiotic use.

Barriers

• AMR (antimicrobial resistance) and anthelminthic resistance and cost involved to combat the risks.
• The risk, impact and management of notifiable diseases, for example, HPAI, bTB and exotic disease incursions like BTV3.
• High capital investment to support enhancing AHW and biosecurity measures.
• Lack of access to novel surveillance and diagnostic innovations. There is a lack of data to quantify and evidence AHW benefits on productivity.

NFU asks

• Increased resources and funding for APHA. 
• A comprehensive bovine TB policy based on science and evidence.
• LIS (Livestock Information Service) that allows non-statutory information, such as AHW records and productivity measures, to be reported and available for producers at the point of sale.
• Industry to engage with RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture) and encourage greater sector reporting through the Medicine Hub.
• Productivity schemes available through ELMS/ATP.
• Funding for technology that can help with early identification of disease and/or poor health.
• Endemic disease strategy from government and levy bodies.
  

Measures

• Number of AHW pathway agreements.
• Numbers and impact of endemic diseases on sector outputs, for example, BVD.
• Cases and impact of exotic disease.
• Reports of medicine use on the Medicine Hub.
• Bovine TB Statistics and Epidemiology Report.

Member opportunities

• With different GHG calculators to choose from, members can decide what works best for their business.
• Continual improvement in accounting of livestock GHG emissions through the government’s national GHG inventory and or GHG calculator harmonisation.

Barriers

• The different calculators available often give variable results. 
• GHG calculations for both GHG calculators and the national inventory are very complex. They need to keep up with the latest science and represent the industry progress, including livestock efficiency. 
• Details on how national inventory categories are defined are unclear. This makes it challenging to drive improvements and see progress within each sub-sector, and also raises concern over whether these figures are fairly influencing government policy.

NFU asks

• Collaborative working on the next steps in harmonising GHG accounting tools following Defra’s harmonisation project. Calculator transparency and third-party verification of alignment to set minimum standards to build user confidence.
• Better sequestration metrics and verified reporting techniques to evidence the benefits of livestock on our soils.
• Government to incentivise GHG relevant KPIs and GHG audits through the Agricultural Transition Plan/ELMS.
• Continued engagement with on-farm calculators to improve the services and functionality.
• Commitment and action from government to continuously improve the National GHG Inventory to best represent all sub-sectors, current science and industry progress. 

Measures

• Use of KPIs/GHG calculators in industry.
• Improved consistency of results provided across different calculators.

Methane accounting

Member opportunity

• Methane is a short-lived GHG and using GWP100 (global warming potential) overstates the warming impact from constant methane emissions. There are other metrics, such as GWP* which can better show the contribution of methane to warming. 

Barriers

• GWP* is not utilised by the national GHG inventory nor by on-farm calculators because GWP100 is the internationally established metric. There is also some debate whether GWP* can be utilised at farm and national scales because GHGs have global impact.   

NFU asks

• A unified approach to dual accounting with government and industry reporting on emissions from agriculture at the national scale using GWP100 and GWP*. 
• Explore solutions for incorporating GWP* into on-farm GHG calculators so individual producers are not disadvantaged for expanding when national herd/flock emissions remain unchanged or are decreasing due to uptake of new tools and technology. 
• Consistent and simple messaging to consumers on the temperature impacts from methane, and finding a more suitable way for the wider environmental impact of a food product to be measured, including the nutrient density of foods in their relation to their climate impact. 
• The impact of genetics and selective breeding on reducing methane emissions to be measured with GWP100 and GWP*. 
• A joined-up approach to emissions to air across government departments, for example, when looking at air quality under Clean Air Strategy and GHG emissions reductions vs the future of ELMs. 

Measures

• Adoption or recognition throughout industry for the need for dual accounting for methane and the use of this in LCAs, GHG calculators and in national accounting. 

Member opportunities

• MSFPs (methane supressing feed products) and the way livestock react to them can significantly reduce on the enteric emissions.
• Defra have identified MSFPs as a priority area. Read Methane reducing feed additives – the story so far.
• R&D to identify animals with better feed efficiency and/or reduced emissions would reduce input costs.
• If you have a slurry storage system on farm, the Slurry Infrastructure Grant is available to help manage methane emissions.
  

Barriers

• MSFPs can be emotive; many are banned in the UK and the full effects on the rumen are still unknown.
• MSFPs have an unknown cost tied to them and it is still unclear who would pay for their use.
• More research is needed to identify maternal and terminal genetics that are more efficient in converting feed or producing fewer emissions.
  

NFU asks

• If Defra wishes to mandate MSFPs , they must provide financial incentive/support to farmers.
• Independent clarification on whether MSFPs are safe and effective to use.
• R&D to identify maternal and terminal genetics for low-emission livestock should be prioritised under current funding, possibly through AHDB.
  

Measures

• The safe use of feed additives on farm, if their use is deemed appropriate.
• The development of KPI or use of genomic selection for low-emission cattle.
• ATP grants available for methane reporting/measuring equipment.

Carbon sequestration – hedges, trees, rewetting peatland, grassland management

Member opportunities

• Permanent pasture is a store of carbon.
• Manure helps build carbon storage capacity and is an organic fertiliser.
• Trees and hedges act as natural boundaries and shelter for livestock as well as sequestration of carbon.
• Through environmental work large swathes of our landscape nurture habitats and biodiversity.
• The ELM scheme provides funding for this protection and maintenance of the environment. Read Everything you need to know about ELMs.
• Through an emphasis on soil health, ELMS could see livestock producers less reliant on inorganic fertiliser. This would help reduce input costs on farm.
  

Barriers

• ELMS still falls short of funding and reward for grassland/permanent pasture.
• Many are still stuck in E/HLS agri-environment schemes due to agreement rollovers and a lack of clarity on when and how to transfer to ELMS.
• Measurements of ELMS’ impact on biodiversity, carbon sequestration, soil health, etc are not being measured by Defra so it is unclear how any successes or progress can be deemed to be made.
• Environmental work can displace food production instead of working alongside it. This is particularly the case in SSSIs and Protected Landscapes where numerous external stakeholders can influence land use.
• Some land classifications, such as SSSI, limit opportunities and any tree planting changes land use permanently.
• Some work such as rewilding can devalue land.
• Agri-environment schemes/options that require lower livestock stocking densities reduces capital available for tenants, leaving them more vulnerable to external shocks.
• Tenants often can't plant trees.
• Rewetting peat can cause welfare issues for livestock and limit grazing.

NFU asks

• The development of safe and transparent environmental markets that align with The NFU’s 5 key principles to successful environmental markets.
• Consistency on supply chain GHG audits – see ‘GHG accounting’ asks.
• Defra to provide evidence for their decisions to reduce stock numbers in the uplands through ELMS.
• ELMS payment rates must be kept under regular review to ensure farmers are fairly rewarded for their environmental actions.
• There must be adequate grassland ELMS options for grassland only farms to protect the vital ecosystem that permanent pasture provides.
• A clear and detailed administrative process, with timelines, for moving from E/HLS to ELMS. In particular, commons and farms in SSSIs and Protected Landscapes, which need external approval for ELMS options, must not be disadvantaged by a process that is slow and unclear.
• Environmental schemes must work alongside food production.
• Support needed for tenants or commoners to access funding.
• Standardised and approved metric for evidencing the benefit of livestock systems on sequestration and biodiversity.
  

Measures

• Hectares of woodland, documenting of landscape trees, hedgerow trees and clusters.
• Kilometres of hedgerows (existing/ new/ restored/ enlarged).
• Additional carbon captured through sequestration.
• Take up of ELMs.
• Biodiversity density in livestock production systems.

Making the most of renewables

Member opportunities

• Green energy for use on-farm that could potentially be exported to the grid as an extra form of income or diversification.
• Stability in income and energy price and availability.
• NFU Energy can provide expert advice at a discounted price for members on investing in renewable energy on farm.

Barriers

• Initial capital investment can be high (subject to different technologies; solar/wind/biomass/AD) with limited opportunities for grants and support.
• Return on investment period varies with different technologies.
• Planning constraints, particularly in SSSIs, protected landscapes and for tenants.
• Poor national/local grid infrastructure.

NFU asks

• Easier planning process for renewables: Introduction of permitted development right for a single small-scale wind turbine on farms, allowing most farms to utilise the remoteness of their location, be resilient to energy price shocks, supplement incomes, and support net zero objectives.
• Investment in infrastructure or financial support for farmers to improve, such as upgrading to 3-phase supply.
• Readily available information and guidance about all types of renewables, including hydro and air source heat pumps, payback methods, approved providers and power requirements in certain areas.
• Information about the opportunities of small-scale AD plants.
  

Measures

• Increase in green energy production on farm and energy self-sufficiency.
• Government availability of schemes.