Dairy farmers can significantly reduce their climate impact by adding plant-based fats to their cows' rations daily. This is evident from doctoral research by Joni Van Mullem at ILVO and Ghent University. Extruded linseed and a combination of linseed and rapeseed, in particular, appear to be a feasible measure to reduce methane emissions without loss of milk production.
The study aligns with the Covenant on Enteric Emissions for Cattle, in which the Flemish cattle sector committed to substantially reducing methane emissions by 2030. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and is responsible for approximately half of the climate impact of agriculture in Flanders. The majority is produced during digestion in the rumen of cattle.
However, figures from the Flemish Environment Agency show that methane emissions from the cattle population have increased since 2019. As a result, the sector must now aim for a 22 percent reduction by 2030.
Works in grass-rich rations
According to the study, 400 grams of crude fat from extruded flaxseed daily is sufficient to reduce methane emissions by approximately 5 percent. When 44 percent of the flaxseed is replaced by rapeseed, that reduction even rises to 11 percent.
Importantly, the measure works in grass-rich rations, which typically cause higher methane emissions. Moreover, milk production was maintained in all trials, regardless of the proportion of grass in the feed.
Application of low-methane feeds
Despite previous studies into methane-reducing feeds, their application in Flanders remains limited for the time being. According to recent evaluations, only a limited number of dairy farmers currently actively use low-methane feeding.
Van Mullem therefore investigated measures that are not only scientifically effective but also practically feasible for dairy farms focusing on grassland management and climate-resilient agriculture. Applications within the organic sector were also taken into account.
Remarkable potential of wild plants
In addition to flaxseed and rapeseed, the researcher also investigated herbs, legumes, and wild plants. Some species were found to have remarkably strong methane-reducing properties in laboratory tests.
Young twigs of the sweet chestnut scored particularly high, with a methane reduction of up to 94 percent under laboratory conditions. According to the researchers, additional research is needed to translate such results into practically applicable feeding systems for farms.
I wonder then if there haven't been fewer cattle in Flanders since 2019?
because then methane emissions per head of cattle would have increased? And what is that due to?
Nature intended the methane emissions this way, right? After all, a cow is basically a peaceful herbivore or grass-eater. And that is completely organic.
Which leads to the following thought: Does feeding low-methane feed not fall under “animal abuse” or “unnaturalness”? Isn’t that hard to stomach, and what are the long-term effects on health?