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Despite the multiple definitions currently used to express enteric methane emissions from ruminants, no consensus has been reached on the most appropriate definition. The objective of the present study was to explore alternative trait definitions reflecting animal-level differences in enteric methane emissions in growing cattle. It is likely that no single methane trait definition will be best suited to all intended use cases, but at least knowing the relationships between the different traits may help inform the selection process. The research aimed to understand the complex inter-relationships between traditional and novel methane traits and their association with performance traits across multiple breeds and sexes of cattle; also of interest was the extent of variability in daily enteric methane emissions independent of performance traits like feed intake, growth and liveweight. Methane and carbon dioxide data were collected using the Greenfeed system on 939 growing crossbred cattle from a commercial feedlot. Performance traits including feed intake, feeding behavior, liveweight, live animal ultrasound, subjectively scored skeletal and muscular traits, and slaughter data were also available. A total of 13 different methane traits were generated, including (average) daily methane production, 5 ratio traits and 7 residual methane (RMP) traits. The RMP traits were defined as methane production adjusted statistically for different combinations of the performance traits of energy intake, liveweight, average daily gain, and carcass weight; terms reflecting systematic effects were also included in the fixed effects linear models. Of the performance traits investigated, liveweight and energy intake individually explained more of the variability in methane production than growth rate or fat. All definitions of RMP were strongly phenotypically correlated with each other (>0.90) as well as with methane production itself (>0.86); the RMP traits were also moderately correlated with the methane ratio traits (>0.57). The dataset included heifers, steers, and bulls; bulls were either fed a total mixed ration or ad lib concentrates. When all sexes fed total mixed ration were compared, bulls, on average, emitted the most enteric methane per day of 269.53 g, while heifers and steers produced 237.54 and 253.26 g, respectively. Breed differences in the methane traits existed, with Limousins, on average, producing the least amount of methane of the breeds investigated. Herefords and Montbéliardes produced 124.50 g and 130.77 g more methane per day, respectively, than Limousins. The most efficient 10% of test-day records, as defined by daily methane independent of both energy intake and liveweight emitted, on average, 54.60 g/d less methane than animals that were average for daily methane independent of both energy intake and liveweight. This equates to 6.5 kg less methane production per animal over a 120-d finishing period for the same feed intake and liveweight.This study explores established and novel enteric methane trait definitions in growing crossbred cattle, aiming to unravel associations between various methane traits and economically important performance traits, while also quantifying inter-breed differences.Understanding the dynamics of livestock methane emissions is an important aspect to reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. The present study focused on growing beef cattle, one of the primary sources of enteric methane in agriculture. Various definitions of enteric methane emissions were explored. Individual animal eructed methane and carbon dioxide spot measures were available from 939 crossbred cattle at a commercial feedlot. Performance data of feed intake, feeding behavior, liveweight, live animal ultrasound scans, and slaughter information were also available. Thirteen distinct methane traits were defined, categorized into daily methane production, ratio-based traits, and residual traits. All methane trait definitions were positively correlated with one another. Methane emissions varied across different cattle breeds and sexes fed total mixed ration, with bulls typically emitting 31 g more methane per day than heifers. The overall mean methane emission was 248.86 g/d with a standard deviation of 40.69 g. Of the breeds studied, Limousin cattle emitted the least methane, while Herefords and Montbéliardes produced 124.5 and 130.77 g more methane per day, respectively, than Limousins. Importantly, independent of breed, the most efficient 10% of cattle, when adjusted for the same feed intake and liveweight, produced 54.60 g less methane per day than the average of the animals tested. Over a 120-d feeding period, this equates to 6.5 kg less methane per animal.