Page 19 - AWA Vol. 42-No.4 issue

Dairy FarmiNg

minerva Foods and rumin8 announce results of

groundbreaking methane reduction study in Brazilian cattle

Minerva Foods, a global food com-
pany and South America’s leading beef
exporter, and Rumin8, an Australian
climate technology company develop-
ing feed additives to reduce livestock
methane emissions, today announced
the results of a study demonstrating
significant reductions in methane emis-
sions from cattle alongside improved
feed efficiency.
The research was conducted in part-
nership with the University of São Paulo
through the Luiz de Queiroz College of
Agriculture (ESALQ/USP), one of Braz-
il’s leading agricultural research insti-
tutions.

The 120-day study evaluated the im- cial cattle herd.” ceiving only a total mixed ration and a
pact of Rumin8’s feed additive on en- group receiving the diet supplemented
teric methane emissions and produc- The study also found that methane in- with the additive.
tive performance in Nelore cattle under tensity per kilogram of liveweight gain
conditions simulating commercial decreased from 77.2 g/kg to 39.6 g/kg A second group of 200 Nelore bulls
Brazilian feedlot operations. Animals when comparing cattle fed only a TMR was fed the additive in collective pens
receiving the additive in a total mixed with those receiving the additive. to simulate commercial-scale opera-
ration (TMR) showed a 50.4% reduction In total, the trial achieved an estimated tional conditions.
in methane emissions and a statistically reduction of 29.8 tonnes of CO₂ equiva-
significant 5% improvement in feed lent in greenhouse gas emissions, while Throughout the study period, cattle
conversion efficiency compared with also delivering productivity gains and were fed a typical Brazilian feedlot fin-
cattle fed the same diet without the ad- lower feed consumption. Independent ishing diet consisting of 12% roughage
ditive. verification of these results is currently and 88% concentrate, with ground corn

Rumin8 CEO David Messina said the underway by companies specializing as the primary ingredient. Feed intake
collaboration represents an important in agricultural carbon certification, in- was monitored daily and productive
step toward scaling methane-reducing cluding Athian and FoodChain ID. performance was assessed through
technologies in one of the world’s larg- “This study highlights the potential of liveweight measurements during the
est cattle markets. innovation and collaboration between trial.
“We were pleased to partner with Min- industry, science and technology to According to the researchers involved,
erva and ESALQ/USP to assess Rumin8’s address one of the most pressing chal- the results position the tested additive
ability to mitigate methane and its im- lenges on the livestock sector’s climate among the most promising methane
pact on animal performance in an en- agenda,” said a Minerva Foods spokes- mitigation strategies evaluated by the
vironment that simulates a commercial person. “Reducing methane emissions institution, with potential to reduce the
Brazilian feedlot setting.” is a strategic priority for advancing environmental footprint of beef produc-
more sustainable cattle production, and
“Minerva and Rumin8 are both com- initiatives like this help accelerate solu- tion while improving production effi-
mitted to reducing methane emissions ciency.
from the agriculture and food sector, tions that combine productivity and en-
and it was excellent to have this work vironmental responsibility.” The initiative reinforces Minerva
validated by one of Brazil’s most re- The experiment involved two groups Foods’ commitment to advancing inno-
spected academic institutions. The re- of Nelore bulls. The first group included vative solutions that support the sus-
sults of this study were significant and 80 animals housed in individual pens tainable development of the livestock
will form part of our data package as we to allow precise measurement of feed value chain through partnerships with
move toward commercialization in Bra- intake and methane emissions. These technology companies and leading re-
zil, home to the world’s largest commer- were divided into a control group re- search institutions. Circle 23 on enquiry card
Vol. 42 No. 4 17