HOW GRASSROOTS BEEF IS SO LOW CARBON

We get asked this question a lot. Can you talk us through how your carbon footprint is so low?

1. Our beef is dairy beef.

Beef generally comes from two systems: a suckler herd or a dairy beef herd. A suckler herd involves the farmer keeping cows to breed to a bull before rearing the calves to sell for beef. Dairy beef animals are the progeny of dairy animals that are in-calf in order to produce milk for human consumption. In this sense, they are a bi-product of the milk supply chain. However recently we have become very good at selecting the right beef bulls to produce fantastic beef animals in their own right. Under the dairy beef system, the carbon footprint of the mother goes to milk production, whereas in the suckler beef system, the carbon footprint of the mother goes entirely to the beef.

2. We reduce use of inputs with a high carbon footprint.

Many of the inputs to a farming system (the things a farmer buys to farm) come with a high carbon footprint attached. For example, fertiliser has a very high carbon footprint because huge amounts of energy are required during it's manufacture. Same with processed feed like soya meal. We support our farmers to reduce their use of inputs, instead relying on changes in regenerative farm management to support production.

3. Healthy animals fit for an efficient farming system.

This means the breeds are suited to the environment - they're native to the UK. Our cattle are predominantly a cross breed of Angus or Hereford crossed with a dairy cow. They stay healthy and growing in the great British outdoors, but they're also very good at converting forage (grass) to muscle. Because animals are regularly moved to the new pasture, they are healthy with low challenges to their immune systems and always have a good clean, fresh meal in front of them.

It is worth noting also that we report sequestration separately. So all our carbon footprint numbers are simply a reflection of reduced emissions and system efficiency rather than relying on carbon storage in soils, hedges and trees to bring the number down. This is all good stuff, but we don't feel the need to muddy the water right now.