February 24, 2022

Australia's CSIRO promotes use of native seaweed to reduce cattle emissions

Scientists from Australia's government scientific agency the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has produced a cost-effective cattle ingredient made from seaweed native to Australia that could provide a worldwide solution to reducing methane emissions produced by livestock, Argus Media reported.

The feed was a collaboration between CSIRO, Meat and Livestock Australia, and James Cook University, and will be commercially marketed through the FutureFeed joint venture.

The key ingredient of FutureFeed is Asparagopsis, a red seaweed that cuts methane emissions. Studies have also suggested that FutureFeed increases cattle and sheep growth.

CSIRO said feedlot trials for beef cattle have showed that using 1% of FutureFeed seaweed in a feeding programme lowered methane production by 95%.

Agriculture accounts for 16% of total greenhouse gas emissions in Australia.

-      Argus Media