Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2018
403. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to an academic study (details supplied); and his plans to apply the findings of the study to cattle feed to reduce the levels of methane generated by live cattle stock. [28794/18]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that I am aware of the study he has referenced and my Department, together with Teagasc, is closely monitoring the interesting research work done in Australia and Canada on the use of seaweed as a dietary supplement to reduce methane with a view to deciding if new research to validate the findings under Irish conditions is warranted and, if so, what additional aspects would need to be covered in any new work undertaken here.
While the Australian and Canadian research does indeed look promising, a number of questions remain to be answered before it would be prudent to apply the findings. These include:
- The longevity and sustainability of these reductions in the longer term. For example, feeding trials for similarly promising substances in the past have shown that the emissions reducing effect fades over time as the microbes in the rumen adjust to the new additive.
- The impact on animal performance/animal health and effect on the livestock products (milk and meat). For example, is there a risk of residues in produce?
- The quantities of seaweed required (even at 2%, the area harvestable required per annum would be substantial). Moreover, the red algae in question is not found in Ireland so may need to be imported or a suitable indigenous alternative identified.
My Department will continue to closely monitor the situation ensuring that any Irish research that might be undertaken in the future is customised to addressing the particulars of the Irish livestock production system.
