In a new sustainability report, it also sets targets to increase educational opportunities in animal care programmes and to improve animal wellbeing and workforce safety.

The Sustainability Goals Task Force was formed this year to evaluate US beef cattle sustainability, determine which improvements are most critical and help share the story of progress. Cattle farmers and ranchers set the sustainability goals.

Marty Smith, a Florida cattleman and NCBA past president, said: “Cattlemen and women have demonstrated their commitment to sustainability for generations. They work tirelessly to protect the land, water and air resources in their care through countless improvements in genetics, grazing management, manure handling and the adoption of many other technologies. This is just the next step on our industry’s path.

“By setting goals, we’re publicly committing to continuous improvement and setting targets that allow us to measure and document those efforts.”