Seaweed additives in animal feed to curb livestock emissions
Abstract
Recent studies have found that using seaweed to feed livestock could significantly reduce the amount of methane cows produce. The weed has been used to develop a cow feed additive known as Brominata. The trials were successful, with the additive leading up to a 52% reduction in enteric methane emissions. In one cow, methane gas production was reduced by up to 92%. This is an indication that the additive could be scaled to significantly reduce methane release in cows. One cow belches out about 220 pounds of methane annually. A California Air Resources Board report released in March categorized seaweed additives in animal feeds as one of the key strategies to meeting dairy-based greenhouse targets. While seaweed additives have been fronted as one of the possible farming-based methane polution solutions, there are many challenges.
