Midlands Junior Minister Suggests Farmers Rear Horses To Reduce Emissions

She was speaking as this year's Dublin Horse Show gets underway.

A midlands junior minister has suggested livestock farmers consider rearing horses in an effort to meet the targeted 25% cut to agri emissions.

The Green Party's Pippa Hackett - herself a mixed organic farmer, with suckler cows, sheep, hens and horses - says she wants to examine ways to support the breeding of horses and potentially incentivise farmers to rear horses, which produce less methane than cows or sheep. 

The Junior Agriculture Minister and Offaly Senator told the Irish Independent she's not necessarily suggesting farmers reduce their cattle herds, but that a couple of horses on the side 'helps' with diversification and diverse income streams. 

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