Year Awarded 2025
FFAR award amount $348,719
Total award amount $704,104
Location Palmerston North, New Zealand
Matching Funders The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, ADM, Ag Emissions Centre (formerly New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre), Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB), Elanco, Genus PLC, Nestlé, the Global Methane Hub and JBS USA.
Grantee Institution New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited
Cows and other ruminant animals produce enteric methane as part of their natural digestive process. This methane is the single largest source of direct greenhouse gases in the beef and dairy sectors. Addressing enteric methane emissions is critical to slowing the effects of climate change while also helping the dairy and beef sectors meet their sustainability goals. This project is investigating whether giving cows a continuous pulsed dose of bromoform can shift the microbes in the cow’s rumen from generating methane to acetate, a natural energy source for cows. This research could help cows derive more energy from their feed while releasing less methane.