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RumenShield Dairy - Non-Medicated Feed Additive to Improve Milk Yield in Dairy Cows

Project description

Cows may soon produce more milk and less methane without antibiotics

Livestock, and particularly cattle, are the largest source of methane in the EU. EU dairy farmers have been at a disadvantage since 2006 when the use of antibiotics that increase productivity was banned. RumenShield Dairy wants EU farmers leading the pack. Its novel non-antibiotic feed additive has shown an exciting increase in milk output, far surpassing their competitors, while also decreasing methane emissions by more than 60 %. Even better, the additive reduces mastitis and increases fertility. Taken together, the product promises tremendous increases in revenue and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, with no antibiotics in the milk we drink.

Objective

Antibiotic growth promoters have been used extensively throughout the world to increase milk output in dairy farming, leading to an average 5.4% increase in milk yield. This leads to greater productivity and profitability. Due to concerns over antibiotic-resistance and overuse of antibiotics, these have been banned in the EU since 2006. While non-antibiotic replacement products are used in the EU, these are not as effective. As such, EU dairy farms are at a competitive disadvantage when competing globally. Mayo Healthcare has developed RumenShield Dairy, a non-antibiotic feed additive which acts upon the rumen microbial community to enhance feed efficiency, improve milk output and health of the animal. In preliminary trials has shown an increased milk yield of 7.16% - leading to increased revenue of 173/cow, with a 3.8x return on investment seen. RumenShield Dairy has also shown additional benefits to the cow including reduced rates of lameness, mastitis and increased rates of fertility, which are estimated to save 275-300/cow. RumenShield Dairy acts upon methanogenic bacteria in the rumen. In vitro studies have shown use of RumenShield Dairy can reduce methane emissions by an average of 63%. This has the potential to transform the EU dairy sector, leading to a 4.067Bn increase in dairy output, with a potential 2.74% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions. Increased productivity and reduced carbon footprint shall make the EU dairy sector more competitive internationally, leading to increased exports, job creation and sustainable food production.
This multi-party FTI project will optimise the formulation and then manufacture RumenShield Dairy. It will complete large-scale field studies demonstrating superiority over current gold-standard products, leading to a scientific opinion from EFSA regarding product use. The total market opportunity in the EU is 864m, with a total global market size of 2.559Bn. We aim to launch the product on the market during Q3, 2021.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

IA - Innovation action

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-FTI-2018-2020

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Coordinator

KILLIAN O'BRIAIN LIMITED
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 799 216,25
Address
UNIT 18, WESTPORT INDUSTRIAL PARK
F28 R718 Westport
Ireland

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Ireland Northern and Western West
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 141 737,50

Participants (3)

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