The global trial program of Rumin8’s methane reducing additives, conducted by independent researchers, continues to yield positive results.
Rumin8 announces positive top-line results from studies of its investigational feed additive
26 June 2024
Rumin8 today announced positive top-line results from its three cattle trials of its investigational methane reducing feed additive. The cattle trials – lasting between 75-130 days and involving 92 head of cattle – recorded reductions of methane intensity of up to 86%* and weight gains ranging 8.4 percent to 12.5 percent higher than control groups that were fed the same base ration. The trials were undertaken by independent universities in Australia, the United States and Brazil and funded by Rumin8.
Analysis of three cattle trials showed that cattle produced less methane and gained more weight each day, on average, when fed Rumin8’s development stage methane reducing feed additive.**
“Weight gains are pivotal for the commercial adoption of methane reducing feed and water additives in the cattle industry,” said Rumin8 CEO, David Messina. “At the very least those weight gains have the potential to offset some of the cost of these additives, all while helping the planet.
“The main question from farmers when we have released methane reduction results has been: ’how will your product impact my productivity?’ These trials are helping us generate the data required to potentially answer these questions.
“While our number one focus remains on reducing methane production to address the critical climate risk that this gas presents, we are particularly interested in these initial weight gain figures, because productivity improvements are of high interest to farmers.”
“When Rumin8 was founded, our hypothesis was that productivity gains could be achieved by reducing methane because considerable energy is ‘lost’ during the rumination process, when feeds are converted to methane. So, if we could successfully change that process in the rumen, and also maintain or increase feed intake, that previous lost energy could be converted into extra meat or milk.”
These recent results were released at the Breakthrough Energy 2024 Summit in London. Breakthrough Energy Ventures is a cornerstone investor in Rumin8 in its quest to use a pharmaceutical approach to creating affordable feed and water supplements that reduce methane emissions from livestock and improve productivity.
Download the press release as a PDF
*Rumin8 prefers to measure and report methane intensity reductions over simple reductions in methane production. Methane intensity is function of both methane reduction as well as average daily weight gain. As a result, the more kilograms of beef or milk that livestock can produce – while at the same time substantially reducing methane production – the more impactful the environmental and commercial outcomes. The measure of reductions in methane production alone is less ideal, as it is often accompanied by reduced feed consumption and reduced weight gain, which is a negative outcome and will reduce commercial uptake.
More detail is available at: https://rumin8.com/caution-needed-in-methane-reduction-measurement/
** Studies were a combination of feedlot and grazing productions systems. Study 1 comprised 24 animals, with 3 treatments and a duration of 12 weeks. Liveweights were measured weekly and animals were group housed, but individually fed. Study 2 comprised 20 animals with 4 treatments with a duration of 77 days. Study 3 comprised 48 animals with 3 treatments, in a grazing system with a duration of 130 days.
Rumin8 hits 80% methane yield reduction in products suitable for grazing cattle
7 June 2024
A University of New England controlled cattle study has found the methane yield was slashed by 81 per cent when trial cattle had access to water troughs dosed with Rumin8’s methane reducing livestock supplements, indicating a new tool is emerging to help cattle farmers who rely on grazing production systems to lower their methane emissions.
Delivery of Rumin8’s water-based formulation to cattle through water troughs opens up opportunities to reduce methane emissions from cattle in either remote, rangeland operations, or those with few animal handling touch points, such as pasture/grass-based cattle production systems.
At any one time 96% of the cattle population in Australia, the United States, Brazil and New Zealand graze grass. There are currently no methane-reducing additives commercially available for these cattle.
The controlled cattle study was run by Australian climate technology company Rumin8 in conjunction with research partner, the University of New England (UNE), to test the efficacy of two different formulations of Rumin8’s proprietary methane inhibiting product against a control group. One was administered a water-based formulation via water troughs suitable for pasture-fed cattle and the other was an oil-based formulation incorporated into a feedlot ration.
The feedlot ration, incorporating Rumin8’s methane reducing oil formulation, achieved a 95 per cent reduction in methane yield.
Rumin8 Chief Executive Officer David Messina said: “We are very pleased with these results as they build on the significant trial data set that Rumin8 has generated with a range of formulations in a variety of production systems over the past three years.
“With so many cattle grazing grass around the world, the 81 per cent methane yield reduction achieved through water-based delivery was truly exciting, both in terms of addressable market and the positive climate impact this has the potential to create.
“Our collaboration with UNE also underpins our commitment to research excellence, as we work towards decarbonizing the global cattle population and delivering effective and practical solutions for producers across a diverse range of production systems. We have now concluded more than 20 trials across the globe to demonstrate efficacy and safety, and to refine our formulations.”
As a result of the successful outcomes from these studies, Rumin8 has now entered into a longer-term agreement with UNE to expand the number and frequency of studies to be conducted at the University, and to accelerate the development and optimization of products for commercial use.
In parallel, Rumin8 continues to progress its registration development programs in New Zealand, Brazil and the United States, with ongoing engagements with regulators in each country.
The methane yield measurement is a preferred measurement of methane reduction as it quantifies the total amount of methane produced divided by the total amount of feed consumed (dry matter intake or DMI) to generate a more accurate assessment of the effect of the additive. Absolute methane measurements can be misleading because methane reductions can be achieved by reducing feed consumption, which is highly undesirable in meat and milk producing animals.