An Update on Cows, Red Seaweed and Methane Emissions

Methane Emissions

Beef cattle fed red algae showed reductions in methane emissions of over 50 percent.

Supplementing the diet of beef cattle with red seaweed can more than halve methane emissions without compromising meat quality, according to a study, published March 17, 2021 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, by Breanna Roque from the University of California and colleagues.

The researchers fed twenty-one Angus-Hereford beef bullocks their usual diet of hay, grains, and corn, supplemented with either zero, low, or high concentrations of red seaweed (Asparagopsis taxiformis). They measured the quantity of methane, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide released by individual bullocks periodically for 21 weeks and found that seaweed supplements reduced methane emissions by between 45 percent and 68 percent.

The proportion of forage in the base diet also influenced emissions; the greatest reductions were found with a high seaweed-supplemented, low-forage diet, which reduced methane production by as much as 80%. Professional grading and consumer testing revealed no effect on the quality or flavor of the meat.

The study is the first to show a sustained reduction in cattle greenhouse gas emissions as a result of feed supplementation. Bullocks also sustained normal growth rates while consuming less food, suggesting that red seaweed supplemented diets could help farmers improve efficiency, reduce costs, and reduce methane emissions simultaneously, the authors say.

“There is more work to be done, but we are very encouraged by these results,” Dr. Roque said. “We now have a clear answer to the question of whether seaweed supplements can sustainably reduce livestock methane emissions and its long-term effectiveness.”

All rights reserved. Permission required to reprint articles in their entirety. Must include copyright statement and live hyperlinks. Contact editorial@algaeplanet.com. Algae Planet accepts unsolicited manuscripts for consideration, and takes no responsibility for the validity of claims made in submitted editorial.

Seagriculture EU 2024
AlgaeMetrics

Subscribe

EABA AlgaeEurope23
Hire Robin Coles Technical Writer

Breaking-News

  • December 11, 2023: Indian company Birla Cellulose is teaming up with Israeli startup Algaeing to create eco-friendly fibers that do not require traditional dyeing, reducing environmental impact. They are working on using Algaeing’s bio-based technology, which involves growing algae vertically, to make sustainable and biodegradable textiles. READ MORE...
  • December 8, 2023: Researchers at Seoul National University of Science and Technology found that brown seaweed consumption is an effective dietary supplement against both type 2 diabetes risk and as an intervention to regular blood glucose levels in patients suffering from the condition. READ MORE...
  • December 4, 2023: New generation ultrasonic technologies used to mitigate unwanted algae are a leap beyond the first systems that came to market more than two decades ago. The latest systems transmit more than 4,400 frequencies and ensure that the proper and most effective resonance is applied to emerging or well-established algal blooms. READ MORE...

A Beginner’s Guide