GEEBovMit - LA 3.1 - Natural additives for steers
Projects / Scientific Research
GEEMovMit LA 3.1 aims to test the effectiveness of a seaweed extract (freeze-dried in oil) as a natural additive in the diet of steers to reduce methane emissions.
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.
General Information
Technical Specifications
Designation
- GEEBovMit LA 3.1 - Mitigation of GHG emissions in beef cattle production – pastures, fodder and natural additives (Action Line 3.1)
Project code
- PRR-C05-i03-I-000027-LA3.1
Main objective
- To reduce GHG emissions from livestock farming and agricultural practices;
- To increase carbon sequestration in soils.
Region of intervention
- NUTS II: Alentejo
- NUTS III: Lezíria do Tejo
Beneficiary entities
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, I.P. (INIAV) - Coordinating Entity
- Faculdade Medicina Veterinária Lisboa (FMV)
- Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para Investigação e Desenvolvimento (IST-ID)
- SeaExpert - Serviços e Consultadoria na Área das Pescas, Lda.
- Terraprima - Sociedade Agrícola, Lda.
- Terraprima - Serviços Ambientais, Sociedade Unipessoal, Lda.
Start date
- 01-04-2022
Completion date
- 30-09-2025
Total eligible cost
- €197,394.39
Funding programme
- European funding: NextGeneration EU;
- National funding: PPR - Recovery and Resilience Plan - Measure RE-C05-i03 - Research and Innovation Agenda for the Sustainability of Agriculture, Food and Agro-industry.
Main Expected Results
Prove the additive's effect on reducing methane emissions in laboratory and animal production models, namely:
- find an effective way of including CHG in diets that allows expected production levels for production animals to be maintained, without disrupting animal welfare and maintaining product quality;
- enable methane emissions to be reduced by more than 40%.
