Fonterra’s chief science officer Dr Jeremy Hill says he is optimistic about some of the solutions on offer for helping dairy lower its carbon footprint, but there is still considerable work to do.
The dairy co-operative recently announced it was partnering up with global nutrient company DSM to work on how that company’s methane-reducing feed additive Bovaer would integrate into New Zealand pastoral dairy systems.
DSM’s Bovaer has proven to reduce ruminant methane emissions by about 30% in non-pastoral, total ration dairy systems.
The compound was recognised in 2019 by the World Resources Institute as one of 10 global breakthrough technologies that could help feed the world sustainably.
A quarter teaspoon of the product every day can be delivered via feed rations to achieve the significantly lower results.
“But we are also looking at all other viable technology, not just Bovaer. This includes working with the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Centre since its inception. Areas include vaccines, some early work on seaweed and our Kowbucha fermentation work,” Hill said.
The Kowbucha project is leveraging Fonterra’s library of 50 years’ worth of dairy cultures used for making cheeses and yoghurt products.
The unique culture collection is being researched for use back on the cows from where those products come from and is one of the largest catalogues in the world.
Scientists are studying to see if some of the cultures could be used to modify rumen bacteria to reduce methane emissions. A number of patents have already been sought.
There is also a novel and secret research approach being worked on that Hill says has “rocket science” potential.
He says products like Bovaer have to meet four criteria before they can get the tick of approval for use in NZ herds.
“It has to be good for the planet, but also good for the farmer in that it is cost effective and practical. It also has to be good for the cow in terms of her performance and health, and finally it has to be good for the milk in terms of composition and residues,” he said.
A decade ago the nitrification inhibitor DCD had to be banned due to the residue issues it created in milk.
“You can’t just have it achieving three of your objectives, and failing on another, it has to be all four,” he said.
At present, Bovaer is several months into trials around NZ, and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is working on getting approval for the product under the Animal Compounds, including Veterinary Medicines Act.
He is hoping that within 12 months after a full dairy season has been analysed, they will have more confidence on Bovaer’s application and success.
But Hill cautions something increasingly echoed by other researchers.
“There are no silver bullets here. We are dealing with a complex system that has an animal, and within the animal you have a rumen, and in the rumen you have a complex ecosystem, so it is not surprising we will require multiple solutions,” he said.
There is no immediate prospect of a “methane vaccine”
“But we do now know an awful lot about developing a vaccine for methane reduction, thanks to some of the best minds in the world,” he said.
“It is a really difficult challenge when you are targeting methanogens in the rumen, but are vaccinating through the bloodstream. But it is a very attractive solution, and one that would be globally deployable, anywhere cows are being milked.”
The next closest match to that level of deployment is the work Hill has witnessed in breeding for lower methane ruminants.
“The sheep breeding programme has shown some great progress. Obviously, breeding is not the fastest process to implement change, but it is relatively easy to achieve with respect to management,” he said.
