Type | Feed ingredient |
---|---|
Inception | 2013 |
Manufacturer | CSIRO |
Website | https://www.future-feed.com |
FutureFeed is a seaweed-based feed ingredient for livestock that is currently being developed by a team from Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The primary component of FutureFeed is dried Asparagopsis , a genus of red algae, which has been shown to reduce the methane (CH4) emissions of ruminant livestock by up to 99%. It is added to fodder at feedlots in dosages of 1-2% dietary intake to achieve this result. [1] FutureFeed is currently being developed in collaboration with James Cook University (JCU) and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), with the primary goal of scaling for mainstream commercial use.
Historical evidence suggests that farmers in Ancient Greece deliberately grazed cattle near beaches as a result of the productivity benefits it provided. This was also the case for Icelandic farmers in the 18th century. [2]
In the early 2010s, Canadian dairy farmer, Joe Dorgan, noticed that cattle in paddocks adjacent to the beaches surrounding his property experienced higher levels of productivity than cattle positioned in paddocks further inland. This was observed through higher conception rates, longer periods of heat and increased milk production. It was discovered that the cattle had been eating dried kelp that had washed up on the shore. [3]
In 2013, environmental scientists, Dr Rob Kinley and Professor Alan Freeden, were recruited by Dorgan to perform official testing on the nutritional data of kelp and to quantify the effects it had on cattle health. Dorgan intended to harvest and sell seaweed as an organic alternative to conventional supplements, however, further testing revealed its ability to reduce methane emissions of livestock. Kinley discovered that this form of kelp was capable of reducing methane production in cattle by up to 16%. [4] Following this discovery, Kinley moved to Australia to partner with CSIRO and James Cook University (JCU) to conduct further testing. A research team at JCU, including Professor Rocky De Nys, had previously studied the effects of algal feed additives on livestock production systems as part of the Centre for Macroalgal Resources and Biotechnology (MACRO). [5] [6] This collaboration provided the foundations for FutureFeed as a commercial application of this research.
In 2013, Rocky De Nys and his team at JCU performed in vitro tests on 20 tropical macroalgae species using an artificial cow stomach. Dried seaweed biomass was mixed in with low quality roughage and combined with rumen fluid. Temperature and pH were then maintained to accurately simulate the fermentation process that occurs within ruminant stomachs during digestion. The total volume and concentrations of produced gases were measured for each sample at 12 hour intervals over a 72 hour period. All seaweed species were shown to reduce methane emissions in some capacity with a 50% average reduction, however this required dosages as much as 20% of dietary intake. This was problematic as the high concentrations required would most likely cause digestion issues for livestock by reducing the volume of volatile fatty acids. Asparagopsis taxiformis proved the most effective with a measured methane reduction of 98.9%. Dictyota was the second most effective seaweed with a measured methane reduction of 92%. [7] The results of this experiment provided sufficient evidence for CSIRO to select Asparagopsis as the main ingredient of FutureFeed. [8]
De Nys and Kinley expanded upon this experiment in 2015 with the goal of finding an ideal dosage of Asparagopsis. The aim was to maximise methane reduction without compromising enteric health. Varying concentrations of Asparagopsis taxiformis were mixed with low quality Rhodes grass and examined using standardised in vitro culture methods. Five dosages were tested ranging from 0.5% to 10% of dietary composition. The optimum concentration was determined to be 2%, as it virtually eliminated methane production and reduced the volume of total gases produced by 30% without affecting fermentation efficiency. Dosages under 5% had no effect on volatile fatty acid concentrations, which is the primary source of energy resulting from digestion. [9]
In 2016, live tests were performed on sheep at the CSIRO Centre for Environment and Life Sciences in Floreat, Western Australia. 29 merino-cross wethers were fed one of five dosage levels (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2% or 3% dietary intake) and monitored over a 72-day feeding period. In dosages of 2%, methane emission reductions of up to 85% were recorded when compared to control sheep. The sheep given dosages of 0.5% recorded at least a 50% reduction in methane emissions. No evidence of microbial adaptation occurred over the 72 days of testing as methane was continually and consistently mitigated. Tissue examination showed no adverse effects on the overall health of the sheep. [10]
In 2017, live subject tests over 90 days were performed on cattle at the CSIRO Lansdown facility in Queensland. [11] 28 Brahman-Angus steers were separated into four groups and given varying dosages of dried Asparagopsis in a simulated feedlot. Concentration levels for each group were 0% (control), 0.5% (low), 1% (medium) and 2% (high) dietary intake. Emissions monitoring was performed regularly using respiration chambers. Weekly weight checks were conducted to monitor cattle productivity. At the conclusion of the project, the cattle were terminated and had their carcasses sent to Meat Standards Australia (MSA) for meat quality assessment. The MSA found that asparagopsis had no effect on meat eating quality. The bioactive bromoform was not detectable in tissues of treated steers, given a two day withdrawal period. [12]
A panel of testers were unable to discern any difference in taste between control milk and milk produced by cattle with seaweed supplements added to their diet. [5]
In 2020, FutureFeed won a Food Planet Prize worth $1million for an Asparagopsis product that reduces methane emissions in livestock. [13] [14]
FutureFeed was shortlisted for the 2021 Eureka Prize in the Applied Environmental Research category. [15]
FutureFeed requires very little processing. Asparagopsis is harvested from a seaweed farm then freeze dried or low temperature dried to preserve as much bioactivity as possible. This can then be packaged and transported as required. FutureFeed consists of whole Asparagopsis, which is either one of two species: Asparagopsis taxiformis or Asparagopsis armata . Both species have very similar biochemistry and thus negligible difference in performance as an additive. [8] The main distinction between either species is the conditions that each flourishes in. Asparagopsis taxiformis thrives in tropical and subtropical climates and can be found in Australian coastal waters, predominantly in northern Queensland and Western Australia. [16] Asparagopsis armata thrives in temperate climates and is found naturally in the Mediterranean Sea and Tasman Sea. [17] The species of Asparagopsis used in FutureFeed will depend on the location and climate of the seaweed farm that FutureFeed will be sourced from. As a global supply chain is planned for distributing FutureFeed, the specific Asparagopsis species used may vary at different locations all over the world. [9]
FutureFeed is incorporated into the diet of livestock at a feedlot, usually as flakes, pellets or a ground powder. Homogeneity of seaweed biomass within the feed must be maintained to ensure uniform intake for consistent effect. [8] The primary chemical in Asparagopsis inhibits methane production in livestock by interacting with the compounds produced during digestion. This chemical is classified as bromoform (CHBr3) and is naturally occurring in red algae species. Bromoform disrupts the chemical reaction between enzymes and vitamin B12, which is a key contributor to the production of methane in ruminant stomachs. Using between 1% and 2% of dietary intake, FutureFeed is able to reduce methane production in livestock by at least 80%. [9]
Research into livestock methane production has shown that up to 12% of energy that fodder produces during digestion is lost as methane gas emissions, primarily from belching. [18] It is a common misconception that the majority of methane emissions from livestock is through flatulent gas. Flatulent gas contributes to less than 10% of methane emissions as opposed to belching which contributes up to 95%. [19] This is caused by bacteria living within the first stomach, known as the rumen, which serves as a 'fermentation tank' to effectively break down nutrients during digestion. Methane production represents an inefficiency of energy conversion that would otherwise contribute to the productive metabolism of livestock, such as milk, muscle or wool production. By impeding methane production, FutureFeed increases the efficiency of ruminant digestion in livestock to improve productivity. [2]
Productivity improvements are directly related to the quality of feed that is ingested. Grain-based feeds such as corn and barley produce up to one third less methane gas in cattle than grass fed cattle. [20] Grass is generally more fibrous and energy intensive for ruminant stomachs to digest, especially lower quality roughage. As a result, larger volumes of methane gas are produced as waste when livestock are given low quality fodder. Therefore, FutureFeed is more likely to provide greater productivity benefits to livestock that are given lower quality feed than those given higher quality feed. [8]
The development team behind FutureFeed represents a partnership between CSIRO, James Cook University and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). All testing and research is performed as part of the National Livestock Methane Program (NLMP), a research effort coordinated by MLA in partnership with 16 major research organisations and funded by the Australian Department of Agriculture. The main goal of the NLMP is to research methods of reducing methane emissions and increasing productivity, specifically for livestock. [21] CSIRO, MLA and JCU, the IP Partners, hold patents for the use of Asparagopsis for methane reduction. The IP partners have licensed FutureFeed the global rights, exclusively to the patents. [22]
The primary team members are as follows [23]
The biggest challenge facing FutureFeed at present is the development of a supply chain for seaweed. As the major component of FutureFeed is Asparagopsis, its scalability is directly correlated to the volume of seaweed that can be produced. There is potential to import large amounts of seaweed from South-East Asia where infrastructure for seaweed farms is already established, however Asparagopsis is not commercially farmed at these locations. [9] The cost of wild-harvest Asparagopsis is approximately AUD $200/kg, which is not viable for commercial use. The target price is aimed to be competitive with other imported algae, at less than AUD $5/kg, by developing infrastructure for mass production. [24] Despite the small amounts required for FutureFeed to be effective, it is estimated that feeding 10% of Australia’s cattle will require 300,000 tonnes of seaweed to be produced each year, demanding over 6,000 hectares of seaweed farms. [2] In order to become a commercial product, significant additional funding is required for the development of cultivation infrastructure and techniques to mass produce Asparagopsis.
The use of FutureFeed is currently only effective for feedlots due to its sole application as a feed additive. Grass fed livestock through grazing are unable to use FutureFeed as feed additives cannot be easily applied to their diet. The digestion of grass-based roughage in livestock emits more methane than grain-based feed, therefore FutureFeed would potentially be more effective for grass fed livestock. [8] As a result, additional methods are currently being developed to allow incorporation of FutureFeed into all styles of livestock feeding. [9]
The specific use of Asparagopsis as a feed additive to reduce livestock methane emissions is a patented application held by CSIRO. [25] However, there are numerous other projects and teams using similar research to develop their own versions of seaweed-based livestock supplements and methods of seaweed production.
Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle.
Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with animals that are raised for meat, fibre, milk, or other products. It includes day-to-day care, selective breeding, and the raising of livestock. Husbandry has a long history, starting with the Neolithic Revolution when animals were first domesticated, from around 13,000 BC onwards, predating farming of the first crops. By the time of early civilisations such as ancient Egypt, cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs were being raised on farms.
Ruminants are hoofed herbivorous grazing or browsing mammals that are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach prior to digestion, principally through microbial actions. The process, which takes place in the front part of the digestive system and therefore is called foregut fermentation, typically requires the fermented ingesta to be regurgitated and chewed again. The process of rechewing the cud to further break down plant matter and stimulate digestion is called rumination. The word "ruminant" comes from the Latin ruminare, which means "to chew over again".
A feedlot or feed yard is a type of animal feeding operation (AFO) which is used in intensive animal farming, notably beef cattle, but also swine, horses, sheep, turkeys, chickens or ducks, prior to slaughter. Large beef feedlots are called concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) in the United States and intensive livestock operations (ILOs) or confined feeding operations (CFO) in Canada. They may contain thousands of animals in an array of pens.
Fodder, also called provender, is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock, such as cattle, rabbits, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. "Fodder" refers particularly to food given to the animals, rather than that which they forage for themselves. Fodder includes hay, straw, silage, compressed and pelleted feeds, oils and mixed rations, and sprouted grains and legumes. Most animal feed is from plants, but some manufacturers add ingredients to processed feeds that are of animal origin.
Burping is the release of gas from the upper digestive tract of animals through the mouth. It is usually audible.
Dairy cattle are cattle bred for the ability to produce large quantities of milk, from which dairy products are made. Dairy cattle generally are of the species Bos taurus.
There are different systems of feeding cattle in animal husbandry. For pastured animals, grass is usually the forage that composes the majority of their diet. Cattle reared in feedlots are fed hay supplemented with grain, soy and other ingredients to increase the energy density of the feed. The debate is whether cattle should be raised on fodder primarily composed of grass or a concentrate. The issue is complicated by the political interests and confusion between labels such as "free range", "organic", or "natural". Cattle raised on a primarily foraged diet are termed grass-fed or pasture-raised; for example meat or milk may be called grass-fed beef or pasture-raised dairy. The term "pasture-raised" can lead to confusion with the term "free range", which does not describe exactly what the animals eat.
Enteric fermentation is a digestive process by which carbohydrates are broken down by microorganisms into simple molecules for absorption into the bloodstream of an animal. Because of human agricultural reliance in many parts of the world on animals which digest by enteric fermentation, it is one of the factors in increased methane emissions.
Dibromochloromethane is a colorless to yellow, heavy and nonflammable compound with formula CHBr
2Cl. It is a trihalomethane. The substance has a sweet odour. Small quantities of dibromochloromethane are produced in ocean by algae.
Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production. The meat of mature or almost mature cattle is mostly known as beef. In beef production there are three main stages: cow-calf operations, backgrounding, and feedlot operations. The production cycle of the animals starts at cow-calf operations; this operation is designed specifically to breed cows for their offspring. From here the calves are backgrounded for a feedlot. Animals grown specifically for the feedlot are known as feeder cattle, the goal of these animals is fattening. Animals not grown for a feedlot are typically female and are commonly known as replacement heifers. While the principal use of beef cattle is meat production, other uses include leather, and beef by-products used in candy, shampoo, cosmetics, and insulin.
Animal feed is food given to domestic animals, especially livestock, in the course of animal husbandry. There are two basic types: fodder and forage. Used alone, the word feed more often refers to fodder. Animal feed is an important input to animal agriculture, and is frequently the main cost of the raising or keeping of animals. Farms typically try to reduce cost for this food, by growing their own, grazing animals, or supplementing expensive feeds with substitutes, such as food waste like spent grain from beer brewing.
A low-carbon diet is a diet with low greenhouse gas emissions. Choosing a low carbon diet is one facet of developing sustainable diets which increase the long-term sustainability of humanity.
Asparagopsis armata is a species of marine red algae, in the family Bonnemaisoniaceae. English name(s) include red harpoon weed. They are multicellular eukaryotic organisms. This species was first described in 1855 by Harvey, an Irish botanist who found the algae on the Western Australian coast. A. armata usually develops on infralittoral rocky bottoms around the seawater surface to around 40m of depth. Marine algae like A. armata are considered "autogenic ecosystem engineers" as they are at the very bottom of the food chain and control resource availability to other organisms in the ecosystem.
Meat & Livestock Australia (M&LA) is an independent company which regulates standards for meat and livestock management in Australian and international markets. Headquartered in North Sydney, Australia; M&LA works closely with the Australian government, and the meat and livestock industries. M&LA has numerous roles across the financial, public and research sectors. The M&LA corporate group conducts research and offers marketing services to meat producers, government bodies and market analysts alike. Forums and events are also run by M&LA aim to provide producers with the opportunity to engage with other participants in the supply chain.
Asparagopsis taxiformis, formerly A. sanfordiana, is a species of red algae, with cosmopolitan distribution in tropical to warm temperate waters. Researchers have demonstrated that feeding ruminants a diet containing 0.2% A. taxiformis seaweed reduced their methane emissions by nearly 99 percent.
The North Australian Pastoral Company (NAPCO) is a large, privately owned, Australian cattle company which operates 13 cattle stations covering over 60,000 km2, managing about 200,000 cattle, in Queensland and the Northern Territory. It produces beef cattle which are grass fed and grain finished before sale to Australian meat processors who onsell beef to domestic and international customers.
Asparagopsis is a genus of edible red macroalgae (Rhodophyta). The species Asparagopsis taxiformis is found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions, while Asparagopsis armata is found in warm temperate regions. Both species are highly invasive, and have colonised the Mediterranean Sea. A third accepted species is A. svedelii, while others are of uncertain status.
Karen Beauchemin is a federal scientist in Canada who is recognized as an international authority on methane emissions and ruminant nutrition. Her research helps develop farming techniques that improve how we raise cattle for meat and milk, while reducing the environmental impacts of livestock production.
Agriculture contributes towards climate change through greenhouse gas emissions and by the conversion of non-agricultural land such as forests into agricultural land. The agriculture, forestry and land use sector contribute between 13% and 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions of nitrous oxide, methane make up over half of total greenhouse gas emission from agriculture. Animal husbandry is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.