Methane reduction in ruminants
Specific seaweed species help, but we need more scientific trials and how could we scale this up?!
When microbes in the digestive systems of ruminant animals (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats...) break down food, they burp out methane, a process called ‘enteric fermentation’. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and so scientists are looking into ways of trying to tackle this massive global problem.
Seaweed has received a lot of hype as a potential methane inhibitor in ruminants and, it's true, early trials are showing positive results. BUT specific seaweed species have to be used and we are yet to prove its long-term effect.
Most trials have focused on bromoform, a bioactive component found in species such as the red seaweed Asparagopsis, which has the methane inhibiting effect. This species grows in warm waters. A few recent lab-based studies have found seaweeds that grow in temperate waters like Wales to also be good methane inhibitors in ruminants, but they don't contain bromoform!
Again, more trials needed to find out how, when and how long the effect has. Meanwhile, feeding small amounts of seaweed to ruminants is good for their health as it provides many digestible nutrients and minerals.
Reference: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2017.00100/full
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