Decision to Slaughter 200,000 Cows in Ireland

The Irish government is implementing a new plan to significantly reduce the number of dairy cows in the country, due to the substantial impact of methane emissions from these cows on global warming. The government has set a goal to reduce emissions from agricultural activities in Ireland by 25% by 2030. One of the proposals to lower emissions from agriculture is to decrease the national dairy herd by 10%, which equates to 65,000 cows annually over three years, according to Farm World. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue stated that the government is discussing options with farmer representatives to reduce methane emissions from cows on farms. The Department of Agriculture noted that the report suggesting a reduction of 200,000 dairy cows is a "modeling document," but this decision is not widely supported by farmers or taxpayers. The cows will be culled over the next three years, costing the Irish taxpayer €600,000 to meet climate emission goals. Cows are a significant source of methane, the primary pollutant of the ozone layer, as they release it during burping. Given the number of cows worldwide, the gas emitted by cows and livestock is a major driver of emissions, ranking second in air pollution in the United States after the oil and gas industry. The Daily Fetched reported last December that the Irish government is also targeting cars, with a proposal draft calling for a reduction of the number of cars on public roads by one-fifth by 2030.