We all belch and fart.
Some of us more than others. Aunt Betty, we’re looking at you!
And for anyone who keeps track, some foods are “the magical fruit that makes us toot.” Cattle are no different; their belching and flatulence can vary greatly depending on the type of food they eat, such as grass, hay, grain, or processed pellets.
So why are we telling you this?
In case you did not know, burps and farts emit methane, and methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases trapping 20 times more heat per molecule than CO2 and contributing significantly to the warming climate.
Methane pollution is estimated to be responsible for 20–30% of climate warming since the start of the Industrial Revolution.
Methane emissions from livestock, particularly cattle, significantly contribute to global methane production.
Alberta, home to nearly half of Canada’s beef cattle, has been targeted not only for reducing atmospheric pollution from oil and gas production but for reducing the harmful output of burps and farts in the province’s cattle.
The solution? Made-in-Alberta food additives are being explored to reduce methane production in feedlot cattle—a critical step in addressing climate change.
Methane Emissions in Feedlot Cattle
Ok, let’s go back to high school biology.
Cattle produce methane primarily through enteric fermentation, a digestive process in their multi-chambered stomachs, especially the rumen. Methane-making microbes, called methanogens, break down fibrous feed in the rumen, releasing methane as a byproduct.
Unlike those grazing on natural grasslands, feedlot cattle are fed a concentrated diet rich in grains, which often results in higher methane emissions for two reasons. First, their concentrated diets generate more fermentation activity, a primary driver of methane production. Second, grain production for feedlot cattle involves significant greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizers, pesticides, and transportation.
In Canada, agriculture contributes 31% of all methane emissions, and feedlot cattle comprise the most significant portion of the output. Reducing these emissions is essential for reaching national climate goals.
Feed Additives: What Are They and How Do They Work?
Feed additives are substances incorporated into cattle feed to improve digestion, boost efficiency, and, more recently, reduce methane production.
Think Beano for cows.
For years, additives like monensin have been used to enhance cattle health and lower feed requirements, indirectly reducing methane emissions.
Monensin modifies the rumen’s microbial population, reducing the feed required to raise a cow by about 5%. As Barry Robinson, a nutritionist working with Alberta farms, explains, “If you’re feeding less feed, there’s a lower carbon footprint.” However, new and more targeted additives are showing even greater promise.
One breakthrough is 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in 2024. This additive directly inhibits enzymes used by methanogens, cutting methane emissions from cattle by 30-50%. That’s a lot less belching and farting, marking the first time a feed additive in Canada has been approved primarily for environmental benefits.
Pioneering the Future: Research and Development
The development of these additives is the result of decades of research.
Scientists like Tim McAllister at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research and Development Centre have been at the forefront of the innovation. McAllister noted that cows lose up to 10% of their energy intake through methane emissions. By reducing these emissions, feed additives benefit the environment and improve feed efficiency, potentially offering economic incentives for ranchers.
3-NOP, for instance, has been shown to enhance milk production in dairy cows slightly and could improve beef cattle’s weight gain. However, its uptake faces challenges as the economic return for producers remains to be determined. “You can’t expect producers to adopt technology that costs them money but doesn’t have any economic return,” McAllister notes.
Other promising additives include seaweed-based products like those developed by Calgary-based Synergraze. Certain types of seaweed contain bromoform, a compound that can reduce methane emissions by up to 90%. Now, if only we could use that formula on our Aunt Betty!
However, scaling up production of this novel solution poses logistical and environmental challenges, such as the need for large, sustainable seaweed farms.
While the science is promising, the widespread adoption of methane-reducing feed additives in Alberta’s feedlots is not without hurdles. First, these additives are primarily suited for confined cattle, limiting their use in grazing systems. Additionally, production and distribution challenges may be several years before these products become commercially viable.
Cost is another major factor. Producers may only be willing to adopt these new technologies with financial incentives or evidence of improved feed efficiency. Programs like Canada’s proposed offset credit market, which allows farmers to sell credits for reducing emissions, could help bridge this gap.
Why It Matters for Alberta
Advances in feed additives and Alberta’s leadership in sustainable agriculture could position the province as a global leader in reducing livestock emissions.
As Nathan Phinney, president of the Canadian Cattle Association, remarked, “We were lagging a bit on timeliness—[but] we’re glad to see that this has finally found a path to get completed.” Canada’s approval of 3-NOP is a milestone, but the journey toward adoption is just beginning.
The road ahead involves balancing environmental goals with economic realities. By leveraging feed additives, Alberta has the potential to transform its feedlot industry into a model of sustainability. Whether through government incentives, continued innovation, or market-driven adoption, the promise of lower methane emissions is within reach. The challenge now lies in ensuring that this promise translates into practice.
We are still trying to figure out what to do with Aunt Betty’s methane production!
