Canadian cattle industry makes inroads on methane emission reduction

This was the largest and longest trial for methane reduction in beef to date.

The trial alone already reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 1473 tonnes CO2e. This is comparable to taking 500 cars off the road for a year.

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The trial was conducted by a Canadian Research Consortium consisting of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Feedlot Health Management Services, Viresco Solutions, and DSM Nutritional Products, and with support from the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association.

Emissions Reduction Alberta committed $1.5 million to this $3 million project through its Methane Challenge. The project was recognized for having positive implications for the province due to the fact that 70 per cent of Canada's cattle production happens in Alberta. With around 15,000 cattle included in the trial, it represents the largest single trial conducted on methane reduction technologies for ruminants.

Methane emission from ruminants represents a significant portion of anthropogenic greenhouse gases and contributes to climate change.

Royal DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and sustainable living, has developed a feed ingredient to reduce enteric methane formation in ruminants by over 30pc on average. The ingredient is scientifically called 3-NOP and is considered a breakthrough technology that inhibits methane formation in the rumen of cattle.

The trial demonstrated the commercial viability of feeding 3-NOP in backgrounding and finishing operations in Alberta's beef cattle industry in a large-scale field trial.

The project evaluated the relative effects of feeding the product on methane reduction and feedlot performance, health and carcass quality outcomes in feedlot cattle fed typical North American finishing diets (corn and barley grain based diets) as well as in a high forage, backgrounding diet. It also evaluated direct measurement techniques for methane emissions in a commercial beef feedlot where the product was used, and demonstrated the use of the product in day-to-day practicalities of commercial feedlots.

Measurements indicated that on average 70pc enteric methane emission reduction was found when the feed ingredient was provided in steam-flaked or dry-rolled barley finishing diets at 125 mg/kg of feed dry matter.

In steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets, a reduction in the range of 31 to 80pc at the 125 mg/kg dosage of the feed ingredient was observed.

Lastly, in backgrounding diets, increasing the dose of the feed ingredient stepwise from 150 to 200 mg/kg decreased the yield of methane by 17-26pc compared with control animals.

The trial successfully demonstrated that the ingredient can be included in commercial feedlot diets to reduce methane emissions, without negative effects on animal health and performance parameters and carcass characteristics.

Steve MacDonald, CEO Emissions Reduction Alberta, comments: "Alberta's agricultural sector is a world leader in sustainable practices. The results of this trial highlight that further opportunities are on the horizon for beef and dairy producers to better manage methane from cattle. ERA's investments are accelerating the solutions that will deliver the improved economic and environmental outcomes Alberta and the world need."

Mark van Nieuwland, Program Director at DSM is happy with the results of the trial: "We see the demand for low carbon beef and dairy products increasing globally. We are therefore very proud that our methane reduction solution has proven to be highly effective at scale and with this level of impact."

DSM has filed the novel feed ingredient for commercial registration under the trade name Bovaer in various geographies.