Cattle as Conservation Agents in Alberta

Cattle are already helping to preserve grasslands

“In carbon cycling or carbon sequestration you have to measure what happens in the soil, what happens in the animal, what happens to the waste that animal produces and how it fits in that carbon cycling system,” says Carolyn Fitzsimmons, co-leader of Climate Action Through Grazing (CAT-G), as shared by the University of Alberta. 

The CAT-G project, now in its second year, is a four-year initiative aiming to store an additional 32.5 million metric tonnes of carbon in Canada’s grasslands by 2050. Co-led by ecologist James Cahill and Fitzsimmons, this cross-disciplinary effort unites scientists, farmers, and ranchers to help Canada meet its net-zero goals. 

Grasslands are the most threatened ecosystem in Canada, with over 80% already lost. These lands store large amounts of carbon in their soil, and the project is exploring how to manage grazing systems—rotational vs. continuous—to maximize both soil health and methane reduction. 

The research is being conducted at the University of Alberta’s Mattheis and Kinsella Research Ranches. These sites have seen improvements through added infrastructure and research investments. 

“Grazed lands are largely on private property in Canada,” said Cahill. “Individual ranchers and producers face economic pressures that favour conversion, and the only way to have a large-scale conservation effort in grasslands is to ensure profitability so that the producers have long term sustainability.” 

Beef and dairy cattle are the leading contributors to methane emissions within Canada’s agricultural sector, reinforcing a widespread public perception that livestock are a primary environmental concern. However, experts caution against oversimplifying the issue. According to environmental scientist Dr. Cahill, removing cattle from the landscape could have unintended ecological consequences. 

Without grazing animals, grasslands tend to transition into woodlands and shrublands says Cahill.  These ecosystems are significantly less effective and far less predictable when it comes to carbon sequestration. She says that while cattle are a source of emissions, they also play a complex role in maintaining the carbon balance of Canada’s grassland ecosystems. 

“Cattle are a conservation agent,” Cahill says. “They are what’s preserving grasslands in Canada right now.” 

“We are demonstrating that the processes that are the result of cattle grazing can be managed better,” says Fitzsimmons. “We hope to manage our animals in a way that actually improves carbon sequestration over the long term and preserves grasslands in Western Canada.”  

“That’s one of the reasons why there is excitement around this project: people realize there hasn’t really been a voice for producers who are trying to manage their lands with a sustainability aspect in mind.” 

This project is not just academic; it aims to offer real solutions for ranchers. Early data on methane emissions, soil microbes, and plant health will guide future land management. International interest continues to grow, with longer-term studies already being planned. 

Photo Credit: Pexels - Andrey Niqi