Did you know that dairy cows burp methane as they digest their food? 🐮 That’s why we’re working with our Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG) member Grosvenor Farms, to trial Bovaer®, a methane-reducing feed supplement which could lead to a 30% reduction in methane emissions. Read more: https://bit.ly/4cHEiKt
Michael Marsh
1mo
I wonder... what is it made from? Is it healthy for the cow? Is it healthy for the people who eat the beef from these cows (what testing has been done, over how long a period, and who tested it? What is the carbon footprint from manufacturing and transporting this stuff. Who profits most from it?
Back in 2016 I had the opportunity to help a young person from Canada with a school science project on cow methane emissions. Part of this involved measuring methane methane emissions in a kimchi jar. I worked out how much enzyme was need to convert it to methanol and sent it to them with an assay system to check its activity after it was successfully exported from UK to Canada. I had to liase extensively with the authorities in Quebec to make sure everything was done correctly. I also ended up getting help from a UK trade representative in Canada as part of it. I ended up making the first commercial export of the enzyme made worldwide. The experiments were a success and the young person won a prize in the local science fair competition and then again in a national science fair event. It was a difficult thing to do but it was worthwhile to me. We need to encourage interest in this problem.
Grosvenor
1mo
We're delighted to be part of this trial, helping to reduce emissions across Grosvenor Farms. Many thanks to all involved!
John Baldwin
1mo
The white haired one is a particulatar problem re CH4 and the cow is also not great
That's fascinating! 🐮 It's great to see Tesco and Grosvenor Farms taking steps to reduce methane emissions.
Conservation of mass suggests the biomethane potential of the manure should go up post cow, or the cow emits a different gas, gains weight, or eats less. If a 1,400 lb Dairy cow's daily manure has a CH4 yield of 50-70,000 BTU/day, how much CH4 does it emit as burps & farts?
Ken McFeely
4w
I was recently involved in a similar feed trial which did reduce the methane emissions(exact figures still to be published)with no negative or positive impact on cow production or health.
Colin Matthews
1mo
And the Biomethane it burps has been absorbed in the biomass feeeds is eats so does not contribute to increasing GHG effects….
David Mills
1mo
To quote Tesco's 'Every Little Helps' and by using Bovaer, dsm-firmenich's Methane-reducing cattle feed additive (soon to be manufactured in the Hart of Scotland) will support our customers in a more sustainable and climate friendly approach to beef and dairy farming.
Managing Director, Grosvenor Farms Ltd
1moAnother example of an exciting sustainability-minded collaboration happening within Grosvenor that is aiming to reduce the impact of our activities and those of the many industries we work across. At Grosvenor Farms we already have one of the lowest carbon footprints for milk production in the UK but innovations and partnerships like these are vital to support further progress. I look forward to seeing the results.