Reducing methane gas, one animal at a time

New Zealand and China have teamed up to try to reduce methane produced by livestock.

The new research looks at whether a natural seaweed compound can be distributed more evenly in the first stomach of livestock. 

This seaweed compound is called bromoform and is known to reduce methane gas production. Researchers will look at using a process of mixing two liquids that normally hate each other called microemulsification, to help to make the bromoform more effective in the stomach where methanogens are active. 

This project was developed through the New Zealand - China Strategic Research Alliance (SRA), and is between China’s Ministry of Science and Technology and New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. 

The project was one of four projects to recently receive $300,000 in funding from the SRA.

Livestock are a major source of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, and this project hopes to reduce this. Bioeconomy Science Institute project lead Dr Xuezhao Sun says this project benefits New Zealand in multiple ways. 

“It also strengthens scientific collaboration with China, supports New Zealand's agricultural innovation sector, and could help the country meet its climate and emissions reduction goals while maintaining a productive farming industry.”

There are hopes that this research might be able to reduce methane production in livestock by 30%, and if successful, could lower greenhouse gas emissions to help combat climate change. 

“Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. We will test whether a more effective way of delivering bromoform, a natural seaweed compound that inhibits methane-producing microbes in the rumen, can achieve greater methane reductions.”

If successful, the technology could allow farmers to reduce emissions without the need to lower livestock numbers or productivity. Using this tool could help the farming industry meet growing environmental expectations while still complying with future emissions requirements. 

 Dr Sun said the plan was not to create major change for farming systems, but instead to produce a feed additive or supplement containing the bromform formulation to reduce methane emissions. 

“It could make methane reduction a more achievable part of everyday farm management.”

The project’s first phase will look at developing a stable formula, and then go through a series of trials from which promising formulas will be tested in China. Farm based- trails will also assess animal health and food safety.