Testing a healthier, less gassy cattle feed

Researchers at the University of Florida have been testing a new type of cattle feed that could help to reduce levels of methane gas from burps and flatulence, as well as allowing dairy cows to use nutrients more efficiently.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is naturally emitted by cows during digestion. Cow burps in particular are a significant source of global methane. When cows’ stomachs make methane, they lose valuable energy that could otherwise be used to make milk or meat. By feeding them in a way that reduces methane output, researchers might be able to help the cow produce more milk while also chasing climate goals.

“It’s a win-win situation. Every time we reduce methane, we keep that energy in the cow’s body,” said Antonio Faciola, an associate professor at UF’s Department of Animal Sciences and leader of the research team.

Faciola and his colleagues examined a potential dairy cattle supplementary feed made of flaxseed and pea protein. Their findings have been published in the Journal of Dairy Science.

As part of the study, University of Alaska research assistant professor and former UF postdoctoral student James Vinyard simulated dairy cattle’s digestion in the lab to see how much methane was produced and to examine possibilities of improving that fermentation by adding a supplemental feed.

The flaxseed and pea protein supplement was added to dairy cattle’s rumen in a lab, with the team measuring how fermentation changed. The supplement, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and proteins, was found to reduce methane production and improve overall digestion.

“This supplement has multiple potential benefits,” Faciola said. “Not only could it reduce methane emissions, but it might also increase energy availability for cows, potentially leading to increased milk production.”

Future studies will include feeding the supplement to dairy cows to see if the lab results match with what happens in the field.

With food security becoming an increasing concern, Faciola emphasised the importance of feeding cows more efficiently to meet growing global demands.

“We will need to have cows producing more milk with the same amount of food,” he said. “We have to be more efficient to feed more people.”

The study was funded in part by O&T Farms Ltd., a Canadian farm that produces animal supplements.

Image credit: iStock.com/Clara Bastian