Effect of Alga Bio 1.0 on Reducing Enteric Methane Emission from Cattle

Authors

Reba L. Conlin, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Kassidy K. Buse, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Andrea K. Watson, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Galen E. Erickson, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Paul J. Kononoff, University of Nebraska at LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2023

Citation

2023 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

UNL Beef, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of Alga Bio 1.0 inclusion on methane and carbon dioxide emissions along with diet digestibility. Three treatments were evaluated with 0, 69, and 103 grams per day Alga Bio 1.0 fed as a top dress in a corn-based diet. Indirect calorimetry headboxes were utilized to evaluate gas production with 12 cows in 4 replicated 3x3 Latin squares. There was a 39% reduction in methane per lb of dry matter intake for cattle fed 69 g of Alga Bio 1.0 and 63% reduction when cattle were fed 103 g of Alga Bio 1.0 daily compared to the control treatment. Both dry matter intake and organic matter intake were reduced by 13% with Alga Bio 1.0 inclusion, but the treatments did not affect the digestibility of dry matter or organic matter. Gross and digestible energy were not affected by Alga Bio 1.0 inclusion. Although this strain of algae is not FDA approved for feeding to cattle, the research shows great potential of Alga Bio 1.0 as a methane mitigation strategy.