Federal offset protocol: Reducing enteric methane emissions from beef cattle
Enteric fermentation is a natural digestive process that happens in ruminant animals like cattle. Microbes in their first stomach compartment, called a rumen, help break down food for digestion. During this process, some of the food turns into methane, a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG), which cattle release into the air when they burp.
The Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions from Beef Cattle federal offset protocol creates an incentive for livestock producers and other project proponents. It encourages them to implement projects that reduce enteric methane emissions in confined beef cattle feeding operations. Categories of activities include:
- improved cattle management
- diet reformulation
- use of feed additives
- use of growth promoters
- other innovative strategies
These activities will lower enteric methane emissions and may be issued federal offset credits under the Canadian Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations.
The protocol cannot be used for projects with grazed cattle or dairy cattle. The use of novel anti-methanogenic feed additives and gut modifiers are not currently eligible activities under this protocol.
The protocol was developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada with input from a team of external technical experts. Experts included individuals with expertise in the cattle industry, agricultural offset project development and implementation, livestock GHG quantification, offset project verification, offset protocol development, and relevant academic research. Experts in the Government of Canada and provinces and territories were also consulted.
Access the protocol
Reducing enteric methane emissions from beef cattle, version 1.0
Other resources
Overview of the Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions from Beef Cattle Federal Offset Protocol
A webinar was held on January 17, 2024, to present an overview of the draft protocol. To receive a copy of the presentation, please send us an email at: creditscompensatoires-offsets@ec.gc.ca
A webinar will be held on November 26, 2025, to present an overview of the final protocol and answer questions. See the Highlights section on our main page or Protocols tab for information on how to register.