Dutch cattle feed additive cuts methane emissions massively in Australian research trials

A Dutch product is providing some tough competition for a methane-busting seaweed, asparagopsis, being developed in Australia to reduce emissions in cattle.

Global science giant DSM has been developing the Bovaer additive for 10 years in trials around the world.

It has been trialled in Australian conditions for the first time and researchers say the results are startling.

Overseas trials have shown a quarter teaspoon per cow per day — on average — reduces methane emissions from dairy cattle by 30 per cent and up to 45 per cent for beef cattle.

In Australia it reduced emissions in beef cattle in a feedlot by up to 99 per cent using a higher dose.

How it works

The additive is a small molecule that inhibits and slows down the process of methane production in cattle.

DSM’s Switzerland-based chemist, Maik Kinderman, said Bovaer was produced from a bio-based alcohol and a nitrate acid.

“We  transform it into powder and the powder is mixed up in the feed,” Mr Kinderman said.

“As of today we have finished over 65 feeding trials in 18 countries.” 

Mr Kindermann said he was confident in the results seen in Australia and elsewhere, with independent research being conducted across the world and the findings published in the Journal of Animal Science.

Australian trials

University of New England associate professor of livestock production, Fran Cowley, was involved in the trials in Armidale, northern NSW.

She said a barley-based diet was used over a 112-day feeding period during which the Bovaer dosage was increased.

“In the finisher diet we were getting 90 per cent of inhibition of methane by including a couple of teaspoons of Bovaer 10 in the ration each day [and] that went up to 99 per cent at times,” she said.

“It’s actually the greatest suppression of methane that had been observed anywhere in the world with this product before.”

When asked to account for the Australian results, DSM said the extent of methane reduction was determined by the amount of Bovaer used and the type of diet or ration fed to the cattle.

It said Australian feedlot diets were already optimised to keep emissions relatively low, so the overall percentage of the reduction was large compared with other production systems in other parts of the world.

Ms Cowley said there was a small blip at the end of the trial that raised some questions about whether the cattle were adapting to the effects of Bovaer, particularly animals that spent longer on feed.

“We found over that duration there was a fairly consistent effect of inhibition, [but] there was a slight indication right towards the very end that there could have been somewhat of a tick up in terms of methane,” Ms Cowley said.

Different method

University of Queensland animal science and production senior lecturer Sarah Meale said she had been working on using a bolus — a device to administer Bovaer to cattle — rather than putting it in their feed.

She said the study was robust but using up to four times the amount of Bovear per dose does made it more expensive.

“Whether that comes out to be economically viable I’m not really sure,” Dr Meale said.

“In terms of feedlot animals though, I guess it is one of the lesser options to reduce overall methane because it is already pretty efficient.

“We’re feeding grains so the animals grow quite quickly … so the animals are growing more efficiently to start with and then if you add the product they are even more efficient.”

Net zero target

Ruminants including cows, sheep and goats produce methane through digestion, which is responsible for about 10 per cent of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions, according to the CSIRO.

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) feedlot program manager Joe McMeniman said the Bovear results were promising but the red meat industry had more work to do do meet its self-imposed 2030 deadline to bring down emissions.

“While feed additives such as Bovaer can be easily applied in total mixed rations scenarios in feedlots, the feedlot sector only accounts for five per cent of the red meat sector’s emissions,” he said.

“Given this MLA is also investing in how we can get compounds out to the grazing industry in slow release and alternative formats under development.”