Feeding methane-reducing feed supplements year-round to dairy cows could cost farmers as much as €110 per head each year.

The additive 3-Nitrooxypropanol (3 NOP) was estimated to cost farmers between 25c and 30c/day at its more-effective higher dosage rate by the European Commission in its medium-term EU agriculture outlook.

Cost estimates for lower but less-effective doses ranged from €62 to €73/cow each year.

Adding the supplement to dairy rations can reduce dairy cow emissions by between 16% and 21%, based on the average time spent by the EU’s cows indoors.

As other emissions are released from dairy farming, for example by spreading fertiliser, total dairy emissions per cow would fall by around 11% to 15%.

Approval

3 NOP was granted EU approval this year for use on farms and DSM Nutritional Products Ltd is currently the only manufacturer of the supplement.

It is included in feed rations, but work is still ongoing into the additive’s role in grass-based production systems where cows’ diets consist entirely of mixed rations.

In-parlour feeding may be an option for dairy farmers.

The Commission has recognised it as having the potential to help the EU meet its emissions reduction targets.

Cut in emissions

The same feed additive could cut suckler cow methane emissions by 9% to 12%, which would reduce overall suckler emissions by 6% to 9%.

Average suckler costs are expected to be between €37 and €66 per year, depending on the dosage fed.

The size of the emissions reduction depends on dosage, as well as the fat and fibre content of the feed.

Both Belgium and Slovenia have included the feed additive in their CAP strategic plans for 2023-2027, but the additive does not feature in any of Ireland’s eco scheme options or the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES).