New feed additive aims to reduce cows’ methane emissions

Press Release via Ritzau (English summary): A new research project aims to develop a feed additive for cows based on methane-reducing bacteria. The bacteria are intended to decrease cows’ emission of the greenhouse gas methane while also serving as a valuable protein source for increased milk yield.

In Denmark, livestock contribute significantly to methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that exacerbates global warming. Cattle, in particular, are major methane emitters due to their digestive processes, with a single dairy cow emitting approximately 600 liters of methane daily. The MethaCow research project aims to directly reduce methane in cows’ rumen by feeding them a supplement containing methane-reducing bacteria and encapsulated nutrients for bacterial growth. The project investigates the optimal growth conditions for these bacteria in the rumen and the necessary nutrient balance to ensure their proliferation without disrupting digestion.

The project, supported by the Innovation Fund, seeks to explore the conversion of methane into CO2 and protein, potentially reducing cow methane emissions by over 50%. This bacterial biomass, rich in protein, is expected to be digested in the small intestine, providing nutrients to enhance the cow’s health and milk production. Aarhus University monitors the overall impact of MethaCow’s supplement on the cows.

The technology’s potential is vast, given Denmark’s significant cattle population, which emits methane equivalent to 3.6 billion kg of CO2 annually. Collaboration between the Technical University of Denmark, GreenCow Biosolutions A/S, UniBio Tech Science A/S, Aarhus University, and the University of Copenhagen combines expertise in microbiology, animal and veterinary science, feed and food technology, and entrepreneurial experience. This interdisciplinary effort aims to address the complex challenge of optimizing bacterial growth and reducing methane emissions in cows’ rumen, paving the way for sustainable livestock farming practices.

Read full press release in Danish here: Ny fodertilsætning skal mindske køers udledning af metan