THE benefits of an edible red seaweed to reduce methane emissions in cattle have been confirmed in a world first trial involving Wagyu owned by the Australian Agricultural Company (AAC).
Australian researchers have found that the red macro algae (Asparagopis spp) when added to the feed of cattle and other ruminant stock, the native seaweed can virtually eliminate methane emissions.
AAC managing director David Harris said the trial broke new ground as the longest of its kind.
“Using feed additives to help cattle producers reduce enteric methane emissions has been demonstrated in this trial,” he said.
“Our feedlot trial was conducted over 300 days and resulted in 28 percent enteric methane abatement with no impact on safety, taste and product integrity or marble score.”
The trial was essential in proving research correlated with tangible on farm results and through it AAC learned more about how to apply Asparagopsis and what needed to be done to improve outcomes in the future.
Other players in the quest to put red algae as a feed additive on a grazier’s menu are Sea Forest, Meat & Livestock Australia, the University of New England and The University of Queensland.
AAC’s feedlot trial presented the perfect push in the pull towards lower emissions from long fed cattle.                                                                                                                            “Based on previous trials that were primarily with cattle fed for 100 days, we anticipated a higher methane abatement, however reducing emissions by almost 30 percent is still significant,” he said.
“Considering the nature of the trial we will look at the positives and take away the learning opportunities.
“While progress was evident, outcomes such as taste and marbling results following sustained use of Asparagopsis oil without the rumen adapting that made the trial a success.”
That ways of reducing enteric methane emissions are still being discovered bodes well for the future of the red meat industry.
Sensationalism and fear mongering both at home and abroad around cattle number cutting in order to reach emission targets have stirred up strong reactions within the industry.
However even though results are promising AAC land managers understand there is no quick fix or silver bullet.
“This trial demonstrates there’s still a lot we don’t know, and that’s not such a bad thing,” Mr Harris said.
“Without testing the science we won’t know how to solve the methane challenge.
“There is significant potential with methane abatement technology and while it’s not perfect yet, with more funding for research better collaboration with government, we can get there.”
AAC will now advance other trial work in methane abatement, including potential opportunities with Asparagopsis.
“We will need diversity in solutions to tackle this issue across our supply chain and we still view Asparagopsis as a part of that mix,” he said.
“Feedlots are a small component of our emissions profile.
“The greater challenge will be tackling methane in extensive grazing environments such as our stations, which can be more than a million hectares in size.
“So, we will look at multiple pathways and a range of interventions.
“Feed additives generally are only one part of the solution, there will be other approaches and technologies that emerge to complement them.”
Time and resources allocated to trials of this nature are all worthwhile say AAC graziers.
“We want to be part of the climate change solution,” he said.
“The question is, how do we make this work for everybody?
“This trial was another important piece in that puzzle.”
GRAZIERS ON THE GROUND
Jeff Johnson and Yolande Templeton run 250 wagyu cattle across a number of properties totalling about 1000 acres [400 hectares].
Mr Johnson said he’d heard that red algae had been used in feed trials and that the results had been promising.
“We feed our cattle grass and haven’t been approached by anyone regarding adding red algae to the mix but I guess that’s something that would happen at the feedlot we send them to,” he said.
When selecting a feedlot that uses methane reducing feed will the grazier be rewarded?                                                                                                                                                            He said he expects this will be the case once ‘they get it all sorted out properly’.
“The biggest problem is the availability of it to the feedlots, a lot of them are situated further inland and not near the ocean,” he said.
“Everyone has to get on board to cut emissions down because [methane emissions] are a big problem.
“All these trials are a good thing.
“I see other countries talking about cutting the number of cattle down and things like that.
“The government tells us we need to produce more food and on the other hand cut down cattle numbers.”
He said reducing methane emissions was important and methane reducing additives made a lot more sense than cattle number culls.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Work is also underway to drive carbon sequestration in Australian landscapes by developing an industry leading method for measuring, managing and forecasting soil carbon sequestration by satellite that will bring down the cost barrier for participation in soil carbon markets.