The Irish Farmers Association claims it can cut emissions by 22% without reducing the national herd.
It comes after Environment Minister Eamon Ryan said some measures would demand a reduction.
He's reportedly keen to impose a sectoral reduction target of 30% on agriculture, but Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue is said to prefer a 22% drop.
Tim Cullinan, the president of the IFA, is adamant the sector can cut emissions without cutting animal numbers:
"We can indeed and already farmers are doing quite a lot on their farm so we accept it will reduce emissions to 22%. If we look at our national heritage today is at the figures that was out in the 1990s."
