Cattle

IFAD and the Government of Rwanda are launching the RDDP Phase II. (Image source: IFAD)

With adaptation finance needs estimated at about US$50bn a year for Sub-Saharan Africa, the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Rwanda are playing their part by launching the Rwanda Dairy Development Project (RDDP) phase II

Building on the successes of the previous phase, the US$100.37mn project will scale up sustainable interventions along the dairy value chain that improves efficiencies, access to markets, nutrition, increase productivity and reduce poverty for rural poor households in 27 districts in Rwanda over the next six years.

The dairy sector in the country has grown significantly over the years with milk production increasing nine-fold, shifting the country from a milk importer to becoming selfsufficient. To address the low milk production, RDDP phase II will encourage farmers to adopt zero grazing and replace the local breeds with improved breeds that produce more milk reducing the need to keep many cows.

To sustain the increased production, the project will support farmers establish mixed pastures intercropping fodder and food crops, increase access to water by promoting water harvesting at household level and bring extension services closer to the farmers. Also, to address the loss of money along the dairy value chain from production to consumption, the project will build the capacities of small-scale farmers to transport milk to collection centres, strengthen capacities of dairy cooperatives, leverage renewable energy and promote local smallscale milk processing.

Collaboration of Eurofins Agro Testing and trinamiX. (Image source: trinamiX)

Renowned laboratory, Eurofins Agro Testing Wageningen has announced its collaboration with trinamiX to enable the optimisation of forage analyses without sending samples to a laboratory

The partnership brings together Eurofins Agro Testing’s expertise in state-of-the-art analysis, their global network of laboratories and extensive knowledge of the agri-food industry with trinamiX’s technology to offer on-the-spot analytics in a fraction of the time it takes for a traditional sample to be analysed. 

The collaboration is set to revolutionise the way feed suppliers, nutritionists, and farmers capture feed data to enable more accurate nutrition management. Bringing trinamiX’s technology and Eurofins Agro Testing’s analysis together in this partnership is set to provide high quality analysis with the flexibility to provide data and insight anywhere in the world.

Hans Martin, managing director of Eurofins Agro Testing Wageningen, emphasises that its customers rely on best-in-class laboratory services to run their businesses profitably and sustainably. Combining this analytical data with trinamiX’s technology is the best way for the industry to improve livestock health and productivity.

Further details of the partnership will be will be revealed at EuroTier 2024 taking place from 12-15 November in Hannover.

Analysis of these three cattle trials showed that cattle produced less methane and gained more weight each day, on average, when fed Rumin8’s development stage methane reducing feed additive. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Rumin8 announced interesting results from cattle trials of its investigational methane reducing feed additive involving 92 head of cattle, which recorded reductions of methane intensity of up to 86%, along with weight gains ranging 8.4-12.5% higher than control groups that were fed the same base ration

Studies mostly comprised a combination of feedlot and grazing productions systems. In the first study, 24 animals underwent three treatments for a duration of 12 weeks. Liveweights were measured weekly and animals were group housed, but fed individually. The second study comprised 20 animals that were subjected to four treatments for a duration of 77 days, while the third study comprised 48 animals that were subjected to three treatments in a grazing system for a duration of 130 days.

Analysis of these three cattle trials showed that cattle produced less methane and gained more weight each day, on average, when fed Rumin8’s development stage methane reducing feed additive. These recent results were released at the Breakthrough Energy 2024 Summit in London. In its quest to use a pharmaceutical approach to creating affordable feed and water supplements that reduce methane emissions from livestock and improve productivity, Breakthrough Energy Ventures has been a cornerstone investor in Rumin8. 

“Weight gains are pivotal for the commercial adoption of methane reducing feed and water additives in the cattle industry,” said Rumin8 CEO, David Messina. “At the very least those weight gains have the potential to offset some of the cost of these additives, all while helping the planet. While our number one focus remains on reducing methane production to address the critical climate risk that this gas presents, we are particularly interested in these initial weight gain figures, because productivity improvements are of high interest to farmers.”

The extensive research and data compiled in the Actisaf Sc 47 LCAs underscore its pivotal role in advancing sustainable farming practices. (Image source: Phileo by Lesaffre)

Developed by Phileo by Lesaffre, Actisaf Sc 47 offers groundbreaking solutions for both dairy and beef production systems, thereby enhancing animal health and welfare, while minimising environmental impact

Being the first yeast probiotic to showcase strong ISO-compliant evidence of environmental benefits, Actisaf Sc 47 serves as a pioneering solution for farmers seeking to improve the sustainability of their dairy farming operations and sets a new standard in yeast probiotics feed supplements. 

A comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study was conducted by Phileo by Lesaffre in collaboration with Blonk consultants. Results from the study showed that incorporating Actisaf Sc 47 into dairy diets can lead to a reduction in carbon footprint by up to 5%, primarily due to enhanced feed efficiency. 

A separate LCA study on fattening period in beef was conducted in 2022. Results from the study demonstrated significant reductions in CO2 impact ranging from 3.8% to 6.6%, thereby highlighting Actisaf Sc 47’s efficacy in optimising feed efficiency and minimising environmental footprint in beef production systems.

As the agricultural sector evolves to meet global environmental challenges, Actisaf Sc 47 continues to drive positive change and foster a more sustainable future for farming communities worldwide.