April 5, 2011
 

UK researches show linseed reduces belching in cattle

Cattle which consume linseed can lessen the amount of methane up to 40% when they belch, according to studies presented at the British Society of Animal Science yearly conference.

The linseed encourages the growth of good bacteria in the cow's stomach while rejecting the type of bacteria that produces methane.

More than 100 dairy farms with 30,000 cows which produce milk and cheese for major retailers are already adding linseed to cattle feed as part of an industry-wide plan to bring down emissions from cows.

Linseed produced in the UK can also help farmers reduce dependency on imported feed like soy or wheat that is increasing in price.

Amanda Ball from dairy farming organisation, DairyCo, said more farmers are expected to use linseed in future to bring down emissions and boost the health of cows.

"Dairy farmers are facing rising feed costs and it is very encouraging to see them use innovative solutions that help them achieve the highest standards of welfare in a modern and sustainable way. We know that feeding cows more efficiently can help reduce methane emissions and this is a great example of farmers putting that knowledge into practice."

The UK Government has committed to cutting greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050, including the emissions from agriculture.

Researchers at Reading University and the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences found that dairy cows could emit 20% less methane for every litre of milk if fed with crushed rapeseed.

Increasing the proportion of corn silage in cows' diets from 25% to 75% could reduce methane emission by 6% per litre of milk, while high-sugar grasses could reduce an animal's methane emissions by 20% for every kilogramme of weight gain.