'Cow numbers may be limited if agriculture doesn't step up its efforts to meet climate targets'

Agriculture emissions are projected to increase by between 3-4pc by 2020 and 6-7pc by 2030 on current levels based on an expansion of animal numbers, particularly for the dairy herd.

Claire Fox and Ronnie Bellew

The Government could be forced to restrict farming expansion if Ireland is to avoid massive EU fines for not meeting its targets on emissions reduction.