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cbf1232 t1_irx4ldf wrote

Reply to comment by productofpainnz in New Zealand proposes taxing cow burps to reduce emissions by TDYDave2

There are ways to reduce cow methane output...apparently feeding a small amount of seaweed makes methane output drop dramatically.

So this may just provide a financial incentive for farmers to actually do the things that we already know will help.

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marcus_centurian t1_irxhehb wrote

The red seaweed used for this is very difficult to grow. I think there has been an Australian startup on the books since the early 2010s trying to commercialize this. Nobody can figure out how to make it at scale and to get the cows to eat it, since it is salty and they seem to not eat as much on a mixed ration.

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IAFarmLife t1_irxvjyx wrote

I don't see how the red seaweed being salty would turn the cows off since they crave salt. We add salt to nearly every cattle diet on my farm. On pasture they have free choice salt provided too.

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marcus_centurian t1_irxw3qq wrote

They have a small level of aversion which can be overcome. The researchers at UC Davis used it in a molasses lick. I'm actually working on similar technology at work also in a molasses lick. https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/can-seaweed-cut-methane-emissions-on-dairy-farms

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corizano t1_irxx25z wrote

Asparagopsis is the name of the seaweed, cows in Australia are eating it no worries (actually controlling how much they eat is the problem) as for the growing of it; it’s been possible for them to grow it on oyster racks in the ocean and they are about to start mass cultivation indoors on the eyre peninsula in SA. It’s already had huge results and proven to work with CSIRO studies

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