Dairy farms poised for lower emissions
After almost ten years of robust scientific research, an Asparagopsis supplement became commercially available to the Australian beef industry in mid-2022. We are delighted to announce that FutureFeed’s latest science publication has now paved the way for Asparagopsis use on dairy farms in Australia.
Asparagopsis seaweed is the most efficient natural methane supplement available for livestock – capable of reducing methane emissions by more than 80 per cent. CSIRO, with support from leading industry partners, established FutureFeed to drive the commercialisation of this discovery.
Asparagopsis can be included in feed and supplements as a stabilised freeze-dried powder, or steeped in an edible oils.
FutureFeed, along with Agriculture Victoria Research, has paved the way for the use of Asparagopsis-oil on dairy farms, with the recent publication of our peer reviewed study titled ‘Twice daily feeding of canola oil steeped with Asparagopsis armata reduced methane emissions of lactating dairy cows’ (Alvarez-Hess et al, 2023). A corresponding study detailing the application and efficacy of the oil product for beef feedlots will be published soon.
Our science has placed the Australian beef and dairy industries at the forefront of livestock methane reduction - an increasingly vital issue as some 150 countries seek to meet their commitment to the Global Methane Pledge. (The Pledge is a collective effort to reduce the world’s methane emissions by 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030, with the aim of eliminating 0.2˚C of global warming by 2050).
A recap on the science so far:
1. Asparagopsis is extremely effective at reducing methane in ruminant animals, by more than 80 per cent when consumed at the optimum level based on bromoform delivery and efficacy of response.
The efficacy of methane reductions achievable when Asparagopsis products are offered in a total mixed ration (TMR) are higher than for animals receiving the products in a supplement (including dairy cattle receiving a concentrate supplement twice daily at milking). Nevertheless, our dairy studies are showing remarkable reduction rates considering the difference in feeding systems.
Relevant peer reviewed scientific papers:
(Kinley et al., 2016), (Li et al., 2016), (Roque et al, 2019), (Kinley et al., 2020), (Roque et al., 2021), (Alvarez-Hess et al, 2023)
2. Asparagopsis is safe to feed to cattle. There are no concerns with rumen function or feed digestibility.
Relevant peer reviewed scientific papers:
3. There are no concerns of seaweed-derived bromoform residues in the milk, fat, muscle, or edible offal, and no effect on meat eating quality or milk.
Bromoform has not been found in meat, fat, or edible offal. In the dairy studies trace levels of bromoform at an order of magnitude lower than the safe-for-consumption guidelines of the WHO and USEPA are detected in milk of cows not receiving, as well as those receiving, dietary Asparagopsis.
Relevant peer reviewed scientific papers:
4. The shelf-life stability of Asparagopsis is proven
Our recent study looking at the shelf-life stability of freeze-dried Asparagopsis and Asparagopsis-oil demonstrated both products are stable in controlled storage conditions. Oil-based products have improved storage life in challenging conditions, however. The key to extending shelf-life of both products is maintaining a sealed storage container.
Update on some FAQs:
Does Asparagopsis improve feed conversion efficiency?
Early studies indicated that animal performance as average daily weight gain (ADWG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) could be significantly improved by feeding low levels of Asparagopsis. Feed energy otherwise lost as methane emissions can be redirected into microbial metabolism beneficial to the animal.
This could manifest in a number of ways: fewer days on feed to reach target weight, less feed required to reach target weight, or less feed required for more weight gain.
The studies so far used small numbers of animals, so we recently conducted a larger herd trial (300 steers) to confirm and quantify improvements. We anticipate publishing this important study after peer review in mid-2023.
Links to earlier peer-reviewed studies where productivity improvements were observed:
Is there a grazing application?
We are thrilled to be working with GrainCorp and others on a newly announced pasture study.
Grazing applications are also the focus of other research currently being funded by the Commonwealth and independent undertakings of some of our licensees.
How can I order Asparagopsis?
Although the Asparagopsis industry is in its early days, there is a growing number of companies advancing with their technologies and capabilities and working hard to scale production. Contact an approved licensee directly to enquire about purchasing products: future-feed.com/licensees
Where it all began
Using seaweeds to supplement cattle and sheep has a long history, the ancient Greeks did it when fodder was poor and there is a longstanding following with seaweeds for animal and human nutrition dating before record keeping. Research into the benefits of seaweeds in livestock feeds is comparatively new and has gained focus in the last century. Focus on their effect on enteric methane emissions over the past 20 years has shown variable levels of success, with a significant turning point taking place with FutureFeed Chief Scientist Dr. Rob Kinley in 2007 in Canada. That’s when Dr. Kinley’s seaweed journey began, with a farmer whose family noticed over time that dairy cattle with beachfront access were eating stormtoss seaweeds. They were more productive than the other cows, they were healthier and easier to manage. The practice of bringing the cows seaweed proved profitable and became a normal practice on their farm. The farmer decided to make a commercial venture of it, which required testing. That’s when Dr Kinley discovered that methane emissions from the cattle consuming the seaweed were reduced.
This motivated Dr Kinley onto a global search for seaweeds with even more anti-methane potential. The FutureFeed chapter took root when Dr. Kinley joined forces with like-minded scientists in Australia at CSIRO and James Cook University (JCU). Supported by the Federal Government and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) the team evolved in the quest to screen seaweeds native to Australian waters. The concept was to investigate methane reduction with hopes of improved feed efficiency due to the conservation of energy otherwise lost as methane.
Asparagopsis was in the first cohort of seaweed carefully selected for their unique biochemistries. The results in vitro (using equipment to mimic a cow’s stomach) were so unbelievable they thought the methane measurement instrument was broken! After repeating experiments several times, a low level of inclusion of Asparagopsis was confirmed to eliminate methane. A series of subsequent in vivo (animal) studies in Australia and the USA consistently demonstrated that reductions of more than 80 per cent could be achieved in a farm setting.
With the science proven, the CSIRO, with support from leading industry partners, established FutureFeed on behalf of the intellectual property owners MLA, CSIRO, and JCU. FutureFeed exists to drive the commercialisation of this discovery.
Stay up to date: