Optimisation and system transformation can reduce livestock emissions in Australia

This thesis explores two key questions related to agricultural emissions. First, to what extent can ruminant systems be optimised to reduce the methane intensity of ruminant products; second, what transformational options could reduce agricultural emissions but still produce high quality protein? Our results identify that the methane intensity of ruminant products is decreasing, but that there are limits to these reductions. Gains in reduced emissions intensity are likely to be offset by increased production, increasing net emissions. To reduce net emissions, more transformational options must be considered among which increasing the production of kangaroos is a promising option.