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By Alice McFarlane

Feed Ingredient reduces methane emissions

CFIA approves first feed ingredient to reduce methane emissions from cattle

Feb 2, 2024 | 10:23 AM

Canada has its first methane-reducing feed additive for cattle.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has approved 3-Nitrooxypropanol (3NOP) as a new livestock feed ingredient aimed at reducing methane emissions.

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) and National Cattle Feeders’ Association (NCFA) were pleased with the news, explaining that they’ve long been advocating for these feed ingredients which are being used in other jurisdictions.

NCFA Chair Will Lowe said the product presents a groundbreaking opportunity in mitigating methane emissions.

“It offers a promising avenue to continue our efforts to reduce the environmental impact associated with cattle feeding,” Lowe said. “This category of product aligns with the beef sector’s collective commitment to environmental stewardship and provides an additional tool to the work we are already undertaking on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

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In 2020-2021, the Canadian Beef Advisors set a goal to reduce primary production GHG emissions intensity by 33 per cent by 2030.

CCA President Nathan Phinney said having the regulatory pathway open for feed ingredients that reduce methane missions will contribute to the sector meeting its goal.

“We applaud the CFIA for their diligence on this file to ensure this new tool is available, which will allow Canadian beef producers to remain competitive globally,” Phinney said.

The CFIA intends to add 3NOP to the Canadian Food Inspection Table (CFIT) under the renamed Subclass 6.19.4 (Gut modifier ingredients: Ingredients for the mitigation of environmental impacts related to livestock production). 3NOP has the potential to reduce rumen methane emissions and its use has shown no negative impacts on rumen microbial population, rumen pH, dry matter intake, fibre digestion, or production when fed to cattle.

The guidelines for the use of the product are under development.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

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