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.
*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.
Download the press release as a PDF.
Media:
Cameron Morse
+61 433 886 871
cameron.morse@fticonsulting.com