Australian-origin seaweed, which has been shown to reduce methane emissions in cattle, is seen in the first commercial purchase by a South Australian meat processor just weeks after the announcement of global sales of seaweed. Was done.
This follows four years of extensive research and rapid commercial licensing among researchers from the Australian Government of CSIRO, Meat and Livestock Australia, and James Cook University.
CirPro, a South Australian meat processor, was the first purchaser of a patented Asparagopsis feed supplement, and CH4 Global reported Future Feed to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
CH4Global is one of three companies licensed to sell Asparagopsis as a feed additive in Australia. According to CSIRO, the other two businesses are Sea Forest and Sea Stock. Website..
“We are starting with a relatively small number and growing in line with CH4’s ability to manufacture supplements,” said Reg Smythe, CirPro’s CEO.
The red alga Asparagopsis, which grows naturally in the Australian coastal waters, has been shown to reduce ruminant livestock methane production by up to 98 percent when added to feedlot distributions. report Published by CSIRO and Meat and Livestock Australia.
Seaweeds produce a bioactive compound called bromoform. It prevents the formation of methane by inhibiting certain enzymes in the intestine during the digestion of feed.
According to the report, “this will have a widespread impact on the global greenhouse gas inventory and the search for ways to mitigate the subsequent agriculture, and more specifically, the contribution of livestock to climate change.”
“Asparagopsis has the capacity to make a significant impact on the lean meat industry to reach Australia’s Meat and Livestock (MLA) goal of carbon neutrality by 2030.”
Concerns and implications of measuring asparagus
It is difficult to measure both the amount of asparagopsis consumed and the amount of methane in cattle on the farm, and there are various ways for producers to reduce emissions and improve productivity in a cost-effective manner. Tools and technologies are under development. Livestock Australia reported ABC, said.
“This technology is currently being considered for acceptance by the Government’s carbon credit system by the Emissions Reduction Fund,” CH4 Australia’s general manager Adam Maine told ABC to prove his eligibility for environmental stewardship. He added that it can take the form of marketing meat products. Carbon credit.
“We don’t rely on the carbon credit scheme, but I think it will be part of the overall mix,” said CirPro Chief Smyth. “We need an audit and make that information available through traceability tools.”
Studies have pointed to the positive benefits of incorporating asparagus into cattle feedlots, including significant methane reductions and increased profitability through weight gain, but important findings from Australian meat and livestock. , Biological activity from asparagopsis is “Not safeWhen consumed in large quantities.
“There is limited literature reporting on the effects of bromoform in animals, and they are based on studies in mice and rats,” the research paper (pdf).
“However, due diligence recommends continuous monitoring and further necrotic endoscopy investigations, as the feed content will be longer and / or the levels of content and intake will increase significantly. For dairy systems. “
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Henry Jom is a reporter reporting on local news based in Australia. Contact him at [email protected].