State of Science webinar: developing methane inhibitors for grazing livestock on New Zealand farms

Question and Answers [PDF, 264 KB]

Methane inhibitors or feed additives offer a real opportunity to lower emissions by reducing the activity of methane-producing microbes in the digestive systems of ruminant livestock. They are most effective when the additive is in every mouthful of feed, but this comes at a practical and economic cost.

Globally, two potential feed additive options have emerged in the last few years – Bovaer by DSM and a seaweed species from FutureFeed in Australia. Both have been demonstrated to be effective in total mixed ration systems where feeds are provided to animals daily and the additive can be mixed into the feed.

While this is encouraging, the application of this mitigation option is a challenge in New Zealand’s farming systems. Research funded by the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium (PGgRc) is helping address this – investigating highly potent compounds that can be provided to animals through long-life (>100 days) intra-ruminal devices.

Ron Ronimus from AgResearch gave an update on science progress in this quest, supported by Mark Aspin provided a commercialisation and delivery perspective. They will outline the challenges that have been overcome – and those that remain.

For more information, please contact enquiry@nzagrc.org.nz