Seaweed extract cuts methane in grazing beef cows study finds
Bottom line
University of Adelaide researchers report that bromoform extract oil derived from the red seaweed Asparagopsis cut methane emissions in pregnant and lactating Angus cows by 49.5% to 77.0% during an eight-week trial in an extensive grazing system, with an average reduction of 60.6%. The peer-reviewed study, published March 20, 2026, in Frontiers in Animal Science, followed 21 cows and found no difference in cow body weight or calf body weight through 150 days post-calving, even though supplemented cows had lower dry matter intake. Adelaide highlighted the work on April 20, 2026, as evidence that methane-reducing supplementation may be feasible outside tightly controlled feedlot settings. (frontiersin.org)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals working with beef herds, the study tackles a practical gap: whether methane-reduction strategies can work in breeding cattle on pasture, where intake is harder to control than in total mixed ration systems. The authors say no prior studies had assessed bromoform supplementation through late gestation and early lactation in an extensive system, and the lack of an observed growth penalty in calves will matter for herd health discussions with producers weighing sustainability goals against reproductive and performance risk. Still, the trial was small, and researchers noted mild metabolic alkalosis in a substantial share of cows, underscoring the need for continued monitoring as these products move closer to broader use. (frontiersin.org)
What to watch: Watch for larger field studies, residue and safety data, and whether grazing-system delivery can be standardized well enough for commercial adoption and, potentially, carbon-market or buyer-driven incentives. (axios.com)
A seaweed-derived methane inhibitor has posted another strong result in beef cattle, this time in a setting that looks much closer to commercial grazing. In a March 20, 2026, paper in Frontiers in Animal Science, University of Adelaide researchers reported that bromoform extract oil from red seaweed Asparagopsis reduced methane emissions in late-gestation and early-lactation Angus cows by 49.5% to 77.0% over eight weeks in an extensive production system. The university publicized the findings on April 20, 2026, emphasizing that calf growth and development were not negatively affected. (frontiersin.org)
That matters because much of the strongest methane-reduction work in cattle has come from feedlot or dairy settings, where animals consume a controlled ration every day. Earlier studies have shown very large methane cuts from Asparagopsis-based products in confined systems, including up to 99% methane-yield reduction in one feedlot heifer study using canola oil stabilized with seaweed bioactives. But translating that effect to grazing herds has been a persistent challenge, largely because supplement delivery is less consistent when cattle are spread across pasture. UC Davis researchers said as recently as March 2026 that this delivery problem remains a central barrier for rangeland use. (academic.oup.com)
In the Adelaide study, 21 Angus cows were assigned to control or bromoform treatment groups, and the work focused on the cow-calf pair through late gestation and early lactation. According to the paper, methane emissions fell by an average of 60.6% in supplemented cows, while cow body weight did not differ from controls and calf body weight remained unchanged through day 150 after calving. Supplemented cows did consume less dry matter and had lower metabolizable energy intake, which the authors note could imply production-efficiency benefits if performance is maintained, though that inference will need validation in larger commercial studies. (frontiersin.org)
The paper also adds nuance on safety. Researchers reported no difference in measured calf growth outcomes and no major adverse performance findings, but they did observe that blood base excess in cows was above the higher reference range, with 60% of the population experiencing mild metabolic alkalosis. That doesn’t negate the methane result, but it does suggest veterinarians and nutrition advisers will want a closer look at metabolic effects, dose consistency, and monitoring protocols before broad on-farm rollout. (public-pages-files-2025.frontiersin.org)
Outside this study, the broader evidence base is moving in the same direction, though not always with the same magnitude. A 2026 meta-analysis in BMC Agriculture said Asparagopsis additives have reduced methane emissions in ruminants by up to 99%, depending on bromoform dose and diet context. At the same time, recent reporting on commercial trials has pointed to the gap between controlled research and real-world deployment: independent verification, cost, and consistent delivery remain open questions, especially for grazing cattle. (link.springer.com)
For veterinary professionals, the biggest takeaway is that methane mitigation is moving from proof-of-concept toward herd-level management, and that shifts the conversation from climate claims alone to animal monitoring, ration strategy, and reproductive-system compatibility. If producers ask about these products, veterinarians may increasingly be pulled into decisions about palatability, intake variability, metabolic surveillance, and how to interpret safety data in pregnant and lactating animals. The fact that this study followed cows through calving and tracked calves to 150 days gives it added relevance for cow-calf practice, even if the sample size limits how far the conclusions can be generalized. (frontiersin.org)
There’s also a business and regulatory angle. Commercialized Asparagopsis oil products are already being discussed in the beef sector, and published feedlot work has framed them as potentially safe for animals and consumers of meat when used under studied conditions. But grazing adoption will likely depend on whether companies and researchers can show repeatable intake, acceptable economics, and a clean safety and residue profile across production classes. (academic.oup.com)
What to watch: Expect follow-up work on larger herds, field-friendly delivery systems, residue and food-safety data, and whether methane reductions in grazing cattle are strong and consistent enough to support commercial uptake, incentives, or sustainability programs tied to beef supply chains. (vetmed.ucdavis.edu)