AGOLIN® RUMINANT – Feed additive certified to reduce enteric methane production in dairy cows and beef cattle
Country of development/application
Switzerland
Scope of innovation
☐ Office work
☒ Production / Service supply process
Sector-specific
☒ Yes / please, specify sector(s): Agriculture
☐ No (relevant for all sectors)
Description of the needs
Greenhouse gases trap heat and make the planet warmer. Human activities are responsible for almost all of the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the last 150 years . Agriculture is among the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) beef cattle and dairy cows are responsible for about 10% of global human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which corresponds to 4600 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent per year. About 40% or 2000 million tons of the sectors emissions are in the form of methane (CH4), which is produced by the animal’s digestive process and released to the environment mostly by burping. A cow produces about 500 litres of methane gas per day or about 3 tons of CO2-equivalent per year . Furthermore, it is important to know that methane’s greenhouse effect is 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide.
There is an increasing pressure to identify feed supplements which increase productivity or decrease methane emissions. After years of research in partnership with a number of universities, the Swiss company AGOLIN SA has successfully developed an all-natural solution in the form of feed supplement which became its flagship product. It is a blend of high quality plant extracts from herbs and spices, which is effective, easy to use and safe. Research trials demonstrate AGOLIN’s potential to influence the rumen microbiota positively. The feed supplement produces rumen responses, both in vitro and in vivo, such as reduced methane production, which leads to better energy utilization and consequently improved productivity in the animals.
Description of the solution
AGOLIN products are the result of more than 30 years of research into essential oil compounds specifically developed for dairy, beef, swine and poultry. Essential oils are the components of plants, providing them with natural defense against disease, fungal and insect attack. Some of the well-recognized benefits of essentials oils include:
• Anti-Inflammatory;
• Immune Stimulation;
• Antioxidant;
• Anti-Microbial;
• Enzyme Secretion;
• Flavoring.
The AGOLIN plant-based additives are composed of scientifically selected essential oil blends and are shown to have proven effects on rumen microbiota and gut health. AGOLIN® RUMINANT helps to reduce methane emissions in cows, one of the major sources of greenhouse gas from agricultural production. This product has the Certificate of Achievement from The Carbon Trust Assurance. When included in dairy and cattle feed at a rate of one gram per head each day for adult animals, AGOLIN® RUMINANT has been shown to influence the production of methane in the rumen and thereby reduce methane release to the environment by the animal. AGOLIN® RUMINANT has also been shown to improve feed efficiency. Aside from being effective, they are also easy and safe to use, and GMO free.
AGOLIN® RUMINANT is a carefully balanced combination of microencapsulated essential oil compounds in their natural / nature-identical form. All active substances are of high purity and are accepted for use under current European and USA animal feed and human food legislation. The product is available as powder or liquid and exists in regular of organic form. AGOLIN® RUMINANT is added to premixes or concentrates prior to mixing in feed in order to ensure a homogenous distribution. The recommended dosage is: dairy cows 0.8 – 1.2 g / head / day; beef cattle 150 – 200 mg / 100 kg live weight / day; sheep and goats 0.1 g / head / day. 1 g. of AGOLIN® RUMINANT fed to a cow each day has shown in trials not only a positive effect on performance but also on enteric methane mitigation of about 500 kg CO2-equivalent per year.
AGOLIN products are premixtures of flavourings and comply with the regulation (EC) 1831/2003 on feed additives as well as with FDA guidelines in the USA.
Description of the effect
AGOLIN gains its knowledge through research projects carried out in universities and research institutes. AGOLIN® RUMINANT’s research was partially supported by EU research projects, with the goal to demonstrate a reduction of methane production in ruminants by the use of AGOLIN® RUMINANT, coupled to increased productivity, feed utilisation and animal wellbeing. A Climate-KIC (part of European Institute of Technology) research project demonstrated AGOLIN’s efficacy. Under the conditions of the long-term trial with over 150 cows carried out by the University of Aberystwyth in the United Kingdom, the feed supplement reduced the enteric methane production significantly by 20% per 1 kg. of milk, while feed intake (+3%), efficiency (+5%) and milk production (+9%) were improved. A scientific paper published in ‘Animals’ Journal, was based on over twenty trials carried out over the last number of years, across nine countries and nearly four thousand cows in total. This study was carried out by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) near Madrid. The results not only show a significant benefit in terms of methane reduction from the rumen of the cow, but also in terms of milk production and feed efficiency. Methane emissions can be lowered by around 10%, according to the study, while energy corrected milk output and feed efficiency can be improved by over 4%. AGOLIN’s concept and scientific proofs are well accepted for its economic and environmental benefits by the feed industry and farmers in Europe, North America and Asia. Furthermore, the food and feed industry developed successful carbon in- and offsetting projects with AGOLIN® RUMINANT in Europe and North America (read more on www.agolin.com). Feeding the world cattle population with AGOLIN®RUMINANT and reducing the average enteric methane production by 10% (validated by Carbon Trust, independent low carbon and sustainability experts), would result in a reduction of greenhouse gas emission of 200 million tons CO2-equivalent per year.
Summary of environmental benefits:
• The CO2-equivalent saving by feeding AGOLIN® RUMINANT to dairy cows can be converted into carbon credits.
• 10’000 kg milk produced with AGOLIN® RUMINANT fed cows (1 g / day / animal), show a 9.2 % lower carbon footprint or a reduction of 500 kg CO2-equivalent per cow and year.
• Each ton of AGOLIN® RUMINANT has the potential to reduce CO2-equivalent by 1500 tons (according to trials).
Financial benefits:
• The economic benefit for a farmer amounts to approximately CHF 100 / ton of CO2-equivalent saved.
• AGOLIN® RUMINANT fed cows utilise better their feed due to improved digestion (+4% feed efficiency).
Company/companies that developed/implemented/offer the innovation
Founded in 2006 in Switzerland in the region of Geneva, Agolin SA develops and produces feed additives for dairy cows, beef cattle and other ruminants, as well as for pigs and poultry. They provide nutritional solutions with a blend of essential oils that improve herd performance, profitability and sustainability. The company researches, develops and markets innovative feed additives based on active plant ingredients. Agolin SA ensures safety and guarantees traceability through its quality management system (FAMI-QS).
Farmers are not the only ones interested in Agolin’s products. Agolin SA is collaborating with Nestle, the world’s largest food company and milk buyer, and Barry Callebaut, the world’s largest chocolate manufacturer. Major consumer brands using dairy products in their manufacturing prefer milk from Agolin-fed cows to help them meet their commitments to carbon footprint reductions.
AGOLIN SA
Address: Route de la Picarde 20, 1145 Bière, Switzerland)
E-mail: info@agolin.com info@agolin.com
Phone: +41 (0)21 807 03 34
Website: https://agolin.com/ https://agolin.com/
Additional information
Video material: Agolin SA