Cattle fed with seaweed reduces their greenhouse gas emissions by 82% March 30, 2021
Research into how feed additives interact with the gut microbiome of cattle is paving the way towards a new strategy to tackle one of the main contributors to global warming. In recent years, several studies have demonstrated the methane-reducing potential of supplementing livestock feeds with seaweeds. According to new findings from researchers at the University of California, Davis, a bit of seaweed in cattle feed could reduce methane emissions from beef cattle as much as 82%. The results could pave the way for the sustainable production of livestock throughout the world.
Publication: Roque BM, Venegas M, Kinley RD, de Nys R, Duarte TL, Yang X, et al. (2021). Red seaweed (Asparagopsis taxiformis) supplementation reduces enteric methane by over 80 percent in beef steers. PLoS ONE 16(3): e0247820. DOI: doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247820