Strong Role for Nutritional Technology in Methane Reduction


With Dr Sander van Zijderveld, Cargill Technical Ruminant Lead West Europe


Increasing productivity is a proven way to reduce methane emission intensity, or grammes of methane per kg of milk produced. And we’ve been doing this for many years, with fewer animals producing larger yields. But, going forward, direct dietary interventions will have a role in reducing absolute methane output per cow, in an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of ruminant systems and support more sustainable milk and meat production. Cargill’s ruminant lead for western Europe, Sander van Zijderveld,


is firmly of this belief having completed his PhD in methane reduction in ruminants through Wageningen University, followed by a decade progressing this R&D into commercial use. “Innovative nutritional technology can play a part in reducing


methane production in ruminants,” he told the audience at the Total Dairy seminar in November 2022. “It can also support more efficient dietary protein use.” Around a decade ago, many countries, particularly in western


Europe, became increasingly aware that carbon dioxide emissions must be cut to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Compared with the pig and poultry sectors, ruminants are large contributors to greenhouse gases (see Figure 1), with enteric methane contributing the ‘lion’s share’ to the total for dairy and beef. Unlike monogastrics, ruminants produce enteric methane – a


modern dairy cow produces 370g of methane a day, which is equivalent to 10kg CO2-e a day, and 47% of carbon emissions in dairy cows are enteric methane (see Figure 2). “This was when Cargill invested in exploring methane reduction


techniques in dairy cows as part of its sustainability roadmap,” said Dr van Zijderveld.


Species - Ruminants are large contributors


Indirect progress In the past 70 years, increasing productivity in dairy cows has reduced CO2 CO2


Figure 2: Contribution of enteric methane to GHG production (milk) (FAO, 2013 Tackling climate change through livestock)


Carbon footprint milk (% contribution)


emission intensity. In the US this has dropped from 3.66kg of per kg of milk in 1944 to 1.33kg in 2007 (see Figure 3). “This is


mainly because cow numbers have dropped but milk yield per cow has increased. This would have happened anyway.


Figure 1: GHG emissions from livestock sectors (FAO, 2013 Tackl ing climate change through livestock)


PAGE 30 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 FEED COMPOUNDER


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