Red seaweed (Asparagopsis taxiformis) supplementation reduces enteric methane by over 80 percent in beef steers
The red macroalgae (seaweed) Asparagopsis spp. has shown to reduce ruminant enteric methane (CH4) production up to 99% in vitro. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Asparagopsis taxiformis on CH4 production (g/day per animal), CH4 yield (g CH4/kg dry matter intake (DMI)), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion efficiency (FCE), and carcass and meat quality in growing beef steers. Twenty-one Angus-Hereford beef steers were randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups: 0% (Control), 0.25% (Low Dose; LD), and 0.5% (High Dose; HD) A. taxiformis inclusion based on organic matter intake. Steers were fed 3 diets: high, medium, and low forage total mixed ration (TMR) representing typical life-stage diets of growing beef steers. The LD and HD treatments over 147 days reduced enteric CH4 yield 45 and 68%, respectively; however, there was an interaction between TMR type and the magnitude of CH4 yield reduction. Supplementing the low forage TMR reduced CH4 yield 69.8% (P <0.001) for LD and 80% (P <0.001) for HD treatment. Hydrogen (H2) yield (g H2/DMI) increased significantly (P<0.001) 336 and 590% compared to Control for the LD and HD treatments, respectively. No differences were found in carbon dioxide (CO2) yield (g CO2/DMI), ADG, carcass quality, strip loin proximate analysis and shear force, or consumer taste preferences. DMI tended (P = 0.08) to decrease 8% in steers in LD treatment but significantly (P = 0.002) reduced 14% in steers in HD treatment. Conversely, FCE tended to increase 7% in steers in LD treatment (P = 0.06) and increased 14% in steers in HD (P < 0.01) treatment compared to Control. The persistent reduction of CH4 by A. taxiformis supplementation suggests that this is a viable feed additive to significantly decrease the carbon footprint of ruminant livestock and potentially increase production efficiency.