Key strategies for sustainable production: Feed efficiency, high-quality forage, coproduct use, and reduced crude protein

So heard an online forum this week. That event, co-chaired by AIC’s head of animal feed, James McCulloch, and head of sustainability, Vicky Robinson, was run as part of Countryside COP, which is bringing together the rural community and businesses to showcase and inspire activity ahead of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11-22.

The webinar saw key industry figures outline strategies to reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture while improving farm efficiency and profitability.

Nature's upcyclers 

Georgie Croxford, head of technical and quality ruminant at AB Dairy, firstly emphasized the global challenge of land use, noting that much of the land used for livestock feed is unsuitable for growing crops for human consumption. 

"Approximately 1.3 billion hectares of the 2.5 billion hectares of land globally dedicated to feed production are unsuitable for human food crops," she explained, adding that this distinction is vital in framing the livestock industry's environmental impact.

And she stressed how cows are "nature's upcyclers". They excel in converting otherwise unusable resources—such as crop residues, grasses, and co-products—into valuable into milk, meat, and manure, which completes the nutrient cycle by contributing to soil fertility and supporting renewable energy production. This closed-loop approach emphasizes the efficient use of resources and minimizes waste across the agricultural system, she explained. 

Fine-tuning protein levels ​

With UK farmers facing constraints on available agricultural land, maximizing feed efficiency is becoming even more critical, according to Croxford.

Balancing animal rations to optimize nutrient use—particularly by managing crude protein levels—can significantly benefit both environmental sustainability and farm profitability. Excessive crude protein can increase emissions of nitrous oxide and ammonia, potent greenhouse gases. By fine-tuning protein levels through techniques like precision feeding and milk urea nitrogen analysis, farmers can improve nitrogen utilization while cutting emissions, she said. US trials have shown that reducing milk urea nitrogen by adjusting rations can decrease ammonia emissions by up to 42% and nitrous oxide emissions by up to 21%.

Farmers often overfeed crude protein, which is both costly and environmentally inefficient, Croxford stated. Using feed additives such as amino acids to achieve nutrient balance allows for better outcomes while reducing emissions associated with overfeeding, she stressed.

Responding to market shifts​

As retail and policy shifts put additional demands on UK farmers, sustainable feed practices are becoming essential for maintaining market access. “Retailers are transitioning away from liquid milk contracts to more constituent-based contracts, meaning milk fat and protein contents are directly tied to farmer revenue,” Croxford continued. This shift requires careful feed planning to ensure animals produce the desired milk composition without waste.

The role of forage and co-products  ​

Forage quality is another vital factor in sustainable feed production. Croxford stressed the importance of enhancing forage digestibility and fiber utilization to optimize animal health and productivity. “The goal is to improve the quality of the forage, ensuring it drives animal performance and delivers optimal value.”

She also highlighted the potential of co-products, such as rape, beet pulp, and brewery byproducts, to lower feed’s carbon footprint. Animals, particularly ruminants, can thrive on these nutrient-rich byproducts, turning them into high-quality protein for human consumption, she reiterated.

Bolstering local corn production ​

The forum also heard from George White, CEO of GLW Feeds, a family-owned UK-based livestock feed manufacturer. He outlined company strategies to improve the sustainability of feed ingredients and operations.

GLW recently committed to buying only deforestation-free soy from the US and Canada, and the company is avoiding the inclusion of palm oil derivatives in formulations. It is also shifting to local cereals, and it was behind an initiative to encourage more locally grown corn, with those farmers now delivering half of GLW's corn needs, he explained.

The company’s sustainability focused work also extends to the feed mill itself, where the team installed a combined heat and power plant to generate energy more efficiently, reducing both costs and emissions. Recent upgrades to milling equipment, including a new roller mill, further cut energy use by two-thirds, reported White.

LCA data ​

As a member of the AIC’s Global Feed LCA Institute (GFLI) scheme, GLW reports greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for its products, allowing farmers to assess the environmental impact of the feeds they buy. This focus on sustainability has also driven the feed manufacturer to work on protein efficiency in livestock diets, reducing protein content where feasible and exploring new amino acid formulations for ruminants.

In addressing the UK’s reliance on soy as a primary protein source, White acknowledged the challenge: "Soy remains the most cost-effective and efficient source of protein."

He outlined some of the hurdles linked to alternative protein sources, such as rapeseed, which has seen a steep decline in terms of planted area and yields since the UK banned neonicotinoid insecticides. As regards using legumes like peas and beans, which require less nitrogen fertilizer and support soil health, White believes that with government incentives, farmers could grow more legumes locally, improving food security, reducing import dependency, and enhancing biodiversity by supporting pollinators.

Carbon reduction with PigProGrAm Project​

Martin Barker, sustainability manager at Duynie, reported on the results of a UK initiative aimed at reducing the environmental impact of pig farming.

Led by Duynie, co-product feed specialists, in partnership with Innovate UK, the PigProGrAm project piloted practical solutions to cut carbon emissions and improve manure management in pig farming.

Barker said the project achieved an impressive 71% reduction in carbon emissions per pig.

The PigProGrAm team, a consortium including Membracon (UK) Ltd, a Yorkshire-based pig farmer, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), and Beta Technology, focused on innovative feed and waste management strategies. Leeds University and AHDB independently assessed and verified the results to ensure project credibility and impact.

Key findings include:​

• Carbon reduction through co-product feeds: 64% of the total carbon reduction per pig was attributed to using co-product feeds, which make use of food byproducts rather than land-intensive, high-impact crops.
• Emissions reductions: The project achieved over a 30% decrease in ammonia emissions from livestock housing, addressing one of pig farming’s most persistent environmental challenges.
• Efficient biogas production and ammonia harvesting: Sufficient biogas was produced to evaporate 100% of the slurry, and 100% of the available ammonia from manure was harvested and stored for sale, demonstrating a valuable approach to turning waste into revenue.
• Eutrophication and soil health: A 66% reduction in eutrophication (harmful algae blooms) and a 56% reduction in soil acidification displayed the broader environmental benefits of this approach.

The PigProGrAm project demonstrates the tangible impact of sustainable feed and waste management in reducing the carbon footprint of animal products on supermarket shelves, according to Barker.

This effort is timely, as pressure mounts on livestock farmers to manage manure sustainably and reduce reliance on land-intensive feed crops like soy, he added.