GEEBovMit | Mitigation of GHG emissions in beef cattle production pasture, forage and natural additives

With this project we intend to evaluate the impact of a natural additive (oil obtained by immersion of Asparagosis taxiformis macroalgae) on productivity, health status, product quality and reduction of methane emissions from ruminants in the fattening phase.

After weaning, calves are often produced in confinement using diets containing a high proportion of concentrated feed. Several additives for ruminant diets that reduce CH4 emissions have been reported. It has recently been verified in vitro and in vivo that some species of red macroalgae from temperate and tropical regions have a very potent anti-methanogenic effect.

The effect has been attributed to the presence of volatile halocarbon compounds (CVH), notably bromoform. Lyophilization has been used to maintain the concentration of bromoform during preservation, with high energy and economic costs.

The extraction of the HVCs by immersion of the algae in vegetable oils was proposed. The presence of HVCs in the oils has been verified but there are no results yet on the use of these supplements in experimental laboratory or production models.

This component of the GEEBovMit project aims to deepen the knowledge on the application of these additives. We propose to carry out in vitro studies to evaluate various factors (extraction methodologies, type of oil or concentrations of HVCs). Subsequently, production trials will be carried out under controlled experimentation conditions and under commercial production conditions to evaluate the effect of these supplements on CH4 emissions using the GreenFeed system. The effects on productivity, meat quality and safety, animal health and welfare and rumen physiology and metabolism will also be evaluated. A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) will be applied to the whole global production system, including the grazing herds and the fattening operation and the process of obtaining the additive (freeze-dried algae vs. extract in oil).

Reduce GHG emissions from livestock and agricultural practices.

Promoting agent: INIAV, under the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan

Grant value: 197.394,39 €