MLA, University of Sydney team up to decrease livestock methane

Grazing animals have always presented challenges when it comes to decreasing methane but a new partnership might produce answers.

Pasture supplements that can decrease methane production and boost productivity are the goal of a three-way partnership just formed in the livestock industry.

Meat and Livestock Australia has teamed up with the University of Sydney and private company Agcotech to development supplements for livestock.

The end goal is that during the next few years, the project will come up with new or existing

combinations of methane mitigants and lift production off pastures.

MLA managing director Jason Strong said the investment “will enable grass-fed beef producers to demonstrate their environmental credentials and reduce their emissions to access market opportunities and participate in carbon neutral and low carbon supply chains”.

Mr Strong said boosting production needed to go hand-in-hand with reducing methane emissions.

This could be the case when new pasture technologies improved rumen function but also lowered greenhouse gas emissions.

Agcotech chairman, Charles (Chick) Olsson said Australia had dominated the red meat market with best practice on farm welfare and had set its sights on being a leader in the carbon space.

The company has two products in the Australian market.

Mr Olsson said one was an energy supplement that “intends to meet ‘additionality’, under the existing beef herd methodology method”.

“This method is classified to reduce methane intensity aiming at increasing liveweight gain during dry seasons, allowing animals to be turned off earlier,” Mr Olsson said.

“It also aims to identify non performing breeding cows allowing them to be shipped off the property earlier, all adding up to a reduced carbon footprint and more productive herd.”

For southern producers, Mr Olsson said there was a “direct abatement pasture product that achieves a modest CO2e reduction in methane produced by cattle”.

“This is mainly for southern regions in Australia (NSW and below), and also improves pasture digestibility,” he said.

“This method will allow graziers to participate in a voluntary carbon market, offsetting their emissions against their footprint to begin a pathway to carbon neutrality.”