This initiative is supported by a US$1 million grant from Cargill to Colorado State University’s AgNext research program.
“This investment is part of Cargill’s broader strategy to advance science-based solutions and partnerships addressing climate change globally,” said Eliza Clark, Cargill’s protein and salt sustainability leader.
Current USDA guidelines on methane emissions from various feeding strategies rely on assumptions without sufficient empirical data. AgNext aims to fill this gap by conducting several experiments over the next two years at the University’s Climate Smart Research Facility.
“We will investigate current feeding practices and additives available to feedlot producers to reduce methane emissions, specifically assessing the impact of ionophores, supplemental fat levels, and grain processing types, and their potential combined effects in feedlot cattle diets,” Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, director of AgNext at Colorado State University, told FeedNavigator.
Plugging knowledge gaps
She emphasized that while these technologies are already in use, research on their combined impact on reducing methane emissions is lacking.
The research will also refine baseline emissions estimates by evaluating and improving predictions of methane emissions from feedlot cattle. “The outcomes will provide updated data on the effectiveness of these feeding strategies to the USDA, EPA, and the beef industry, ensuring accurate baseline GHG emissions for the US feedlot cattle industry,” stated the AgNext program lead.
To establish baseline Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, CSU’s Climate Smart Research Facility, one of the largest in the US, is equipped with six climate smart pens, each holding 50 cattle and featuring GreenFeed and SmartFeed machines from C-Lock.
The GreenFeed machines measure emissions of methane, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen for individual animals and herd averages, while the SmartFeed machines track feed intake to determine consumption. Animal growth rates are also measured to evaluate performance and efficiency.
Targeting a broad audience
Researchers do not foresee significant challenges in scaling these practices beyond typical market conditions affecting diet formulation costs and ingredient availability. The findings will be communicated through peer-reviewed journals, blogs, podcasts, social media, verbal presentations, and CSU Extension-developed fact sheets to reach a broad audience.
“These findings on the impact of different ingredients and additives in cattle diets on methane emissions will help shape future feeding strategies, advancing sustainable practices in the beef industry,” said Clark.
“This initiative aligns with Cargill’s sustainability goals, including the BeefUp program, which aims for a 30% reduction in GHG intensity across our North American supply chain by 2030. This program focuses on grazing management, innovation, and food waste reduction, and is projected to impact over five million acres of land, enhancing the productivity, profitability, and resilience of ranchers,” she concluded.