Climate smart feeding solutions for Finnish milk production sector
IRMA
Milk production has many good properties as part of a sustainable and secure food system and provides components for a healthy human diet. However, reduction of the enteric methane production from rumen fermentation would make milk production more climate friendly. This project focuses on the use of 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP, commercial name Bovaer®), because it is the first additive within EU that has been authorized to decrease ruminal methane production. The manufacturer of Bovaer®, DSM, claims that use of it can reduce ruminal methane production up to 30 %.
The objectives of IRMA-project are to solve questions related to adoption of 3-NOP in the Finnish milk production sector. There are some specific aspects that will be covered:
•The quantify the potential of 3-NOP to reduce ruminal methane production when used with typical Finnish diets
•The practical solutions to use 3-NOP with separate feeding of forage and concentrates, which is still common in Finland
•The readiness and willingness of Finnish dairy farmers to adopt new methods such as 3-NOP into use
•The attitudes of Finnish consumers to milk produced using 3-NOP
•The costs related to the use of 3-NOP and required supporting measures in the Finnish operational environment
•Additional nutritional methods to reduce ruminal methane emissions will also be covered
IRMA-project is conducted in close cooperation between the research partners Luke and HY, and the company partners Valio and A-Rehu, which gives good basis for practical progress in the project.
