Texel sheep breeding for lower methane emissions: a practical path to net zero in agriculture

The Texel Sheep Society is using selective breeding to cut methane emissions from sheep, a major source of agricultural greenhouse gases. Research from Teagasc and international projects like GrasstoGas and Sustain Sheep show that genetics can account for up to 17% of methane variation between animals. Breeding for faster growth and higher meat yield also reduces days to slaughter, further lowering emissions per animal. The society publishes performance data on iTexel.uk to help farmers choose low-emission sires. While breeding offers moderate, cumulative gains over time, the society acknowledges that quicker fixes exist and that economic benefits must drive adoption. The approach balances environmental goals with farm profitability. The UK sheep sector could cut methane by 12-15% through widespread uptake of such breeding strategies, with potential reductions up to 27% when combined with other measures.