GEEBovMit - LA 3.1 - Natural additives for steers

The GEEMovMit Project - LA 3.1 - Natural additives for steers (PRR-C05-i03-I-000027) aims to study feeding strategies for the different stages of the beef cattle production cycle in order to reduce the environmental impact of production systems by integrating the factors that affect the carbon balance (CB) of beef cattle production systems (soil-plant-animal). The actions to be carried out can be divided into three main groups of actions which include: grazing and extensive grazing, the production of fodder as a food supplement and the use of organic additives in the diets of fattening steers to reduce methane (CH4) emissions. To this end, the project was divided into 2 lines of action: Line of Action 3.1 - Natural additives for steers and Line of Action 3.4 - GHG-reducing pastures.

The aim of Action Line 3.1 is to evaluate the effectiveness of lipid supplements rich in volatile halogenated compounds (VHCs) from the alga Asparagopsis taxiformis on methanogenesis, through in vitro tests and tests on production animals. The effects of the supplements on production parameters, methane emissions, animal welfare and health, chemical composition and the quality of the final products obtained - carcasses and meat - will also be evaluated.