Study finds Asparagopsis seaweed more effective than Bromoform in reducing cattle methane emissions

November 14, 2024 - A new study has found that using whole Asparagopsis seaweed as a cattle feed additive is significantly more effective at reducing methane emissions than using bromoform, the aquatic plant's primary active compound, on its own.

The study provides strong validation for the approach taken by CH4 Global, a company that is scaling commercial production and distribution of an Asparagopsis-based feed additive as a natural solution for shrinking the climate impact of cattle farming.

The peer-reviewed, in vitro study, published in Animal Feed Science and Technology, compared the methane reduction potential of whole Asparagopsis armata seaweed to pure bromoform when used as feed additives for cattle. 

The results showed that the whole, dried seaweed reduced methane emissions by 95.6% when included at 0.5% of the diet, compared to a 59.6% reduction from an equivalent dose of bromoform. This suggests that while bromoform is the primary active compound in Asparagopsis responsible for methane reduction, other bioactive compounds in the seaweed play a significant role, accounting for approximately 40% of the total reduction effect.

"Our findings demonstrate the superior efficacy of whole Asparagopsis seaweed compared to isolated bromoform in mitigating methane emissions from cattle," said Dr Eslam K Ahmed of Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Japan, the study's lead researcher.

"This reinforces the value of harnessing the full spectrum of bioactive compounds naturally present in the seaweed to reduce enteric methane."

CH4 Global's flagship product, Methane Tamer, uses whole dried Asparagopsis seaweed to sharply reduce enteric methane emissions in cattle. CH4 Global CEO Steve Meller said the new study underscored the importance of the company's approach, particularly as beef and dairy producers considered different options some of which relied solely on bromoform or synthetic chemicals to shrink their carbon footprints.

"The results of this study have important implications as CH4 Global continues scaling Methane Tamer for our commercial partners," Dr Meller said.

"Not only do they validate the performance advantage of whole natural Asparagopsis over synthetic compounds, but they also underscore the cost-effectiveness of our solution. Using whole Asparagopsis allows us to achieve superior methane reduction with a lower dose, making Methane Tamer an economically viable option for farmers."

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with more than 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. With livestock farming, particularly cattle and sheep production, responsible for at least 30% of human-driven methane emissions globally, solutions like the one offered by CH4 Global are critical in the fight against climate change.

The Global Miller
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