High Impact
>70%
Trials have shown >70% methane knockdown for three months with our bolus
Reduce CH 4
Every cow treated twice in a year is equivalent to one family-sized car off the road for a year
Inhibit CH 4
Our bolus releases a small sustained dose of an inhibitor that reduces methane production from methanogens
Ruminant Biotech have developed a bolus that is swallowed by the cow and sits in the rumen releasing a small, sustained amount of methane inhibitor over three months producing low-carbon, high-welfare cattle outdoors on pasture, where cows are meant to be.
Our solution is a bolus – a capsule designed to reside in the rumen of the cow, that releases a small and constant dose of the active ingredient. This ensures there are no peaks and troughs in efficacy, and methane production remains consistently suppressed.
The active ingredient in the bolus is called bromoform (scientific name: tribromomethane), which is a naturally occurring organic compound found in red seaweed (Asparagopsis spp.). Bromoform is an enzyme inhibitor and works by inhibiting two final steps in the pathway of methane production by microbes called methanogens. Less than 5% of rumen microbes are methanogens, but these methanogens produce 95% of the methane that comes from the cow.
In small doses, bromoform is rapidly metabolised in the rumen meaning that it is only present in the rumen and it is not absorbed by the cow and therefore, it is not detected in products from animals, such as meat. We actually all drink a small amount of bromoform every day as it has been present in potable water for decades as a byproduct of chlorination. This means that there is extensive research regarding it’s long-term safety in both animals and humans.
With just one application, an animal can be treated and continue to graze on pasture for up to three months whilst producing only 30% of the methane it would normally produce.
If we can treat 25% of the world’s ruminants with our product, the net reduction in GHG emissions equates to removing 300 million cars from the road globally
The benefits are multifaceted
WORLD
Significantly reducing methane can have a more rapid impact on planetary heating because of the short-lived nature of the gas.
COUNTRy
Greenhouse gas targets and pledges can be met and access to export markets maintained.
pRODUCER
Carbon mitigation is worth money. Producers can sell methane mitigation, diversifying farm income and increasing farm profitability.
INDUSTRy
Scope 3 emissions constitute most climate-related liabilities for agrifood corporations, often accounting for over 70% of their total carbon footprint.