Can sugar kelp feed reduce methane in dairy cattle?
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Preliminary (unpublished) results from a study led by Bigelow Labs, University of New Hampshire, and Wolfe's Neck Center in Freeport, ME indicate sugar kelp feed supplements may reduce methane emissions in dairy cattle.
Read the article in Inside Climate News here:Feeding Cows Seaweed Could Cut Methane Emissions and Diversify Maine’s Coastal Economy, but Can It Scale?
Here are some highlights from the article:- "Cutting methane is the strongest lever we have to slow climate change over the next 25 years..."
- Researchers have observed up to 50% methane reduction with sugar kelp supplements
- Organic dairy farmers in Maine are receptive to adding seaweed-based methane-reducing supplements to cattle feed, if the price is right
- This is promising for future market opportunities for Maine kelp growers, but there are still challenges to overcome -- including profitability for kelp and dairy farmers
- New legislation is under review by Congress, which "would allow seaweed to qualify as a gut-modifier"; a more straightforward path introducing seaweed supplements than FDA drug certifications that are currently required.
@kendall_barbery I wonder what the “right” price is for the ranchers?
@mike_spranger The original study (here) indicates that farmers would be willing to pay an additional $0.64/day/cow for seaweed supplements, provided they reduce enteric methane. What that means in terms of the cost of the raw kelp, I'm sure we could figure out but need a bit more info.
Here is a quote from the article, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science:
Nearly half of the respondents (48.6%) reported willingness to pay on average 0.64 USD (± 1.33) per cow daily for an algal-based feed that had been proven to reduce enteric CH4 emissions (Appendix C, Supplementary Table C1). This would represent an additional feed cost of 4,523.38 USD per year to the average farm (53 lactating cows). It is noteworthy to mention that the self-reported price producers were willing to pay (0.64 USD/cow/d) may have been inflated by hypothetical survey bias and further research investigating consumer and producer preference is needed before the marketability of a supplement can be determined.
@kendall_barbery this is awesome!
@jah_ Is this the Jahlyn I know from STS??? Nice to see you here!
@mike_spranger The original study (here) indicates that farmers would be willing to pay an additional $0.64/day/cow for seaweed supplements, provided they reduce enteric methane. What that means in terms of the cost of the raw kelp, I'm sure we could figure out but need a bit more info.
Here is a quote from the article, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science:
Nearly half of the respondents (48.6%) reported willingness to pay on average 0.64 USD (± 1.33) per cow daily for an algal-based feed that had been proven to reduce enteric CH4 emissions (Appendix C, Supplementary Table C1). This would represent an additional feed cost of 4,523.38 USD per year to the average farm (53 lactating cows). It is noteworthy to mention that the self-reported price producers were willing to pay (0.64 USD/cow/d) may have been inflated by hypothetical survey bias and further research investigating consumer and producer preference is needed before the marketability of a supplement can be determined.
@jah_ Is this the Jahlyn I know from STS??? Nice to see you here!