• Reduce manure nitrogen excretion by 12-13 g of nitrogen/ cow/day.
• This data suggests, for example, that the use of Optigen could reduce annual manure nitrogen excretion in the US dairy sector by an average of 51,509 metric tonnes of nitrogen based on annual milk output.
Simply put, this approach aims to provide ‘the right amount of nitrogen, at the right time, in the right place’ to help reduce waste on farms. Results from the meta-analysis also showed that the use of ruminal ammonia in dairy diets resulted in: • A carbon saving of around 54 g of CO2
e per kg of milk.
• When extrapolated to the annual milk output of the Ger- man dairy sector, for example, this would be equivalent to a carbon emission reduction of 1.8 million metric tonnes of CO2
e. Such a carbon saving represents 16% of the entire
reduction target for German agriculture by 2030. A simulation analysis based on the results of the meta-analy- sis indicated that feeding Optigen to 1,000 dairy cows would increase income over feed costs by US$ 18,000 and reduce the carbon footprint of the herd by 647 metric tons of CO2
e.
That carbon reduction is the same as taking 424 cars off the road or 436 houses’ use of electricity. The meta-analysis of beef research highlighted how the par- tial replacement of vegetable protein led to a consistent im- provement in the liveweight gain and feed efficiency of beef
cattle. The many positive effects included an average higher liveweight gain (by 8%) and better feed efficiency (by 8%), with the inclusion of maize silage enhancing these effects. A simulation analysis based on these benefits indicated that feeding Optigen to gain 440 lbs. in 1,000 cattle would: • Reduce the time to slaughter by 9 days. • Reduce feed costs by US$ 18,000. • Support a reduction in the carbon footprint of the beef unit by 111 tons of CO2
e. That carbon saving is the same as taking 73 cars off the road or 75 houses’ use of electricity.
Sustainability not to come at a cost Reducing the environmental impact of animal feed does not imply lower revenues for food system stakeholders. From large dairy farms in the US to the 300 million dairy cows mainly spread across small farms in India, sustainable solutions have become non-negotiable in animal nutrition. Profitability un- derstandably drives this agenda. With animal feed typically representing the most significant variable cost in producing animal products, there is a business responsibility to ensure that we minimise food loss and waste. Animal feed production has underpinned the food system which has enabled global population growth over the last 150 years. It is now time to rec- ognise this unique contribution and how it also helps to discov- er and implement technologies that reduce the environmental impact of animal products and support the circular economy.
▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 29, No. 7, 2021 25
Lowering food loss and waste in livestock pro- duction systems contributes in slowing the pace of climate change.
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