A University of Kentucky study has sought to answer two important questions for the future of bromoform-based methane abating feed additives:
- Does it work? In particular, does it significantly reduce methane emissions from cattle?
- Is it safe? In particular, is bromoform incorporated into the edible tissues of cattle as a result of supplementation in the daily ration?
Crucially, the study found the answers to both primary questions was Yes. It found that supplementing cattle feed with a bromoform-based feed additive resulted in an approximate 98% reduction in enteric methane production; feed consumption was not significantly affected; and no bromoform residues were found in fat, organ, or muscle tissue samples collected .
Two important factors for these methane abating feed additives.
The study explained
The study “The Effects of a Proprietary Kelp Blend Product on Enteric Methane Production and Tissue Residues in Cattle” (https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/16/2411) was undertaken at the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Kentucky.
Steers in the study were fed a corn-silage basal diet. For the treatment group, the ration was top-dressed with proprietary kelp blend product containing bromoform.
Different cohorts of steers were used for each experiment in study, which, in addition to the above, also assessed the durability of abatement post cessation of supplementation.
Were methane emissions reduced?
Yes, and substantially so. The recorded 98% reduction in enteric methane emissions is a clear demonstration of the efficacy of this particular product.
In fact, methane concentration in exhalation breaths from the trial steers consuming the treated feed were below detectable methane levels at all measured time points. So, the study’s authors applied the minimum detectable concentration of 2.2 litres/day to the treatment group. The control steers emitted 88.7 litres/day of methane per day.
But if the cattle consume bromoform in their diet, does it end up in the meat from those cattle?
According to this study – and other studies such as this https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/doi/ and this https://www.scirp.org/journal/ – the answer is no.
In this study, samples from various edible tissues were obtained at slaughter and then tested for bromoform residues.
The tests found bromoform residues were undetectable in liver, kidney, adipose (body fat) and muscle (meat) in both the control and treated groups.
“The findings of the present research suggest that bromoform is not retained in the tissue following product supplementation,” the authors concluded.
The conclusion
This is another university-led, peer-reviewed, trial report that has found that feeding cattle a bromoform additive does not result in bromoform residues in meat or organs, so the beef is safe to eat. But the bromoform product can significantly reduce methane emissions from cattle, to the point of no detectable methane from the treated animals.
In this case, the bromoform was delivered through a proprietary kelp blend product.
These findings are consistent with other studies investigating the efficacy and safety of other bromoform-based methane mitigation technologies, including Rumin8’s own products.