New Study: Asparagopsis highly effective in reducing methane in sheep

Reductions of methane emissions of up to 88% observed in recent study of sheep fed with Asparagopsis

The environmental and production benefits of feeding methane reducing Asparagopsis to cattle has been consistently demonstrated in the accumulating science base. A new study published in the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research demonstrates compelling emissions benefits in sheep fed Asparagopsis.

Conducted at AgResearch in the New Zealand Methane Measurement Centre, Palmerston North, 40 Romney-cross wethers were offered the treatments once per day before their morning diet offering as a barley-based pellet supplement including Asparagopsis and/or Mootral. Efficacy of the supplements was assessed by monitoring animal gas emissions changes using respiration chambers and compared to control wethers not consuming Asparagopsis or Mootral. Duration of the 4-Phase study was 46 days total including adaptation and carryover phases.

The results demonstrated no effect of supplementary Asparagopsis on dietary Dry Matter Intake (DMI), and highly significant reductions in methane emissions of 74% and 88% induced in sheep fed Asparagopsis at 4 and 6 g/day, respectively. Consistent with previous work, as methane emissions reduced there was a resultant increase in hydrogen emissions.

FutureFeed Chief Scientist, Dr Rob Kinley welcomed the study and said that it aligns with and supports consistent and compelling demonstrations of the benefits of feeding Asparagopsis to cattle and sheep.

“This study validates that there is high efficacy when feeding ruminant animals with Asparagopsis at the recommended inclusion levels” Dr Kinley said.