Raising animals with care starts with the land Environment and Sustainability
For Aussie beef, lamb and goat producers, care for animals and the environment are at the core of what we do. Because so much of our livestock are raised on pasture and natural grasslands, care for the land is critical to our success around the globe. And that care extends from the paddock all the way to the plate, in how generations of family farmers seek to continuously lessen our impacts on the planet at every stage of the process.
Sustainability
Australia is one of the only countries in the world to conduct a full-scale Life Cycle Analysis of the environmental impact of beef & lamb production from the farm to delivery in the US. In doing so, we learned that:
- Transport <5% of greenhouse gas emissions, water and land impacts, confirming food miles (or "locally produced") is not a suitable indicator of environmental impact.
In a separate study over the last 30 years, we learned that Aussie ranchers have:
- Reduced their water use by over 65%
- Reduced their animals' greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 14%
Aussie beef & lamb: a natural choice
- Over 70% of our beef and over 90% of our lamb is grassfed and finished
- Livestock graze native and improved pasture varieties – a natural product of a natural environment
- All lamb and most beef is all-natural, minimally processed, free of artificial additives and hormone growth promotants
- The Australian cattle and sheep industries adhere to stringent animal welfare standards enforced by legislation
Target 100
Target 100 is an initiative by Australian cattle and sheep farmers, processors and the broader meat industry to proactively deliver sustainable cattle and sheep farming by 2020. It outlines 100 research, development and extension initiatives to continually improve sustainability and the impact of farming on the Australian environment.
Apart from harnessing the latest technology and science to reduce our footprint, it's also about sharing good ideas, celebrating successes and providing a focal point for environmental, social and ethical farming action to ensure a sustainable food source. Here's a selection of a few of our favorite programs.
As caretakers of the land we are committed to leaving it in better shape than when we found it.
Visit Target 100 for the full list.