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

Project Information

RumenShield Dairy

Grant agreement ID: 853765

DOI

10.3030/853765

Project closed

EC signature date 14 June 2019

Start date 1 July 2019

End date 30 June 2022

Funded under

• Horizon 2020 Framework Programme

Total cost

€ 2 541 393,75

EU contribution

€ 1 775 095,01

Coordinated by

KILLIAN O'BRIAIN LIMITED
Ireland

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RumenShield Dairy (RumenShield Dairy - Non-Medicated Feed Additive to Improve Milk Yield in Dairy Cows)

Reporting period: 2020-07-01 to 2022-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

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. RumenShield Dairy has been developed, a non-antibiotic feed additive which acts upon the rumen microbial community to enhance feed efficiency, improve milk output and health of the animal.
Preliminary trials have 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.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Successful production of RumenShield Dairy has been completed and trials using the production are being undertaken in the EU and US.
All regional regulatory requirement have been assessed and are being met by the product so the product will be deemed safe to use.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The outputs of this project can deliver profound impacts to (i) dairy farmer end-users; (ii) EU dairy sector; (iii) environmental impacts EU and globally.
End-User: The end-user for this product is the dairy farmer. Use of RumenShield Dairy can increase milk yield/cow by over 5%.
The EU dairy sector employs more than 300,000 people and is responsible for €10 billion of exports to the rest of the world each year. Increasing milk production using a non-antibiotic allows the sector to achieve two goals:
1. To increase productivity and reduce production costs, and
2. having a lower cost-base, while emphasizing the antibiotic-free means of production.
This shall allow the sector to become more competitive globally, particularly in new emerging markets.
The EU has pledged to reduce GHG emissions greatly in the coming years, with a target of 40% reduction in 2030. The Dairy industry is a major contributor of GHG emissions, with methane production from cows a key factor. Using RumenShield Dairy we estimate can reduce enteric methane emissions from dairy cows by 63%, leading to a potential reduction in overall EU emissions by 2.74%.

Example of packaging to be used