Livestock Methane Studies Overlook Soil Carbon Sequestration, University of Wyoming Review Finds

University of Wyoming researchers reviewed 82 peer-reviewed studies on methane emissions from grazing beef cattle and found only two that measured soil carbon sequestration at the same time. Those two studies suggest that under certain grazing management systems, soil carbon gains could more than offset cattle methane emissions. The review appears in the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research. The authors say the field needs standardized measurement methods and more paired sampling of animal emissions and soil carbon. Rotational grazing and organic soil amendments are mentioned as practices that could cut methane emissions by nearly half. The gap matters for anyone tracking agricultural carbon credits, methane reduction policy, or net carbon accounting for beef production.