Background
There is growing interest in combatting global warming whilst also being environmentally sustainable. Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas that is found in natural ecosystems.
Methane is an effective solar infrared radiation absorber and contributes significantly to global warming. Accumulation of methane in the atmosphere is a significant issue and can arise from a number of different sources. Methane can be produced in the gastrointestinal tract of ruminant animals and the like.
Ruminant animals produce methane as a byproduct of anaerobic microbial fermentations of feed in the rumen. Furthermore, it is postulated that reducing the amount of methane produced can improve one or more production trait(s) of the ruminant animal. In this regard, it is envisaged that lost energy to methane production can be redirected towards one or more production trait(s).
One method of addressing the methane production of ruminant animals is the use of bromoform (either as a natural product in seaweed or as a synthetic product). However, issues associated with bromoform are that it is volatile which results in difficulty in delivering the appropriate dosage, that if the appropriate amount is delivered as a single dose then there is a spike followed by periods of effectively no bromoform, and the unpalatability of bromoform to an animal. Furthermore, there are toxicity issues associated with the overdosing of bromoform. In this regard, bromoform evaporates relatively quickly and so without administration being monitored, it is difficult to ensure that a ruminant animal is provided with a sufficient amount of bromoform. As such, the ‘effective concentration’ or ‘effective amount’ of bromoform delivered is difficult to administer without significant oversight.
Technology overview
This invention resides in a composition for increasing a measure of a production trait in a ruminant animal and/or reducing methane production in a ruminant animal, the composition comprising a halogenated alkanoic acid or tribromoacetic acid that is activated to bromoform in the rumen thereby delivering bromoform at effective concentrations. The inventors have demonstrated that bromoform is broken down in the rumen into dibromomethane. The inventors postulate that both bromoform and dibromomethane have anti-methanogenic effects in the rumen of ruminant animals. In this regard, bromoform and dibromomethane are postulated to have bioactivity against Archaea microbes. It is understood that tribromoacetic acid will slowly decompose into bromoform when it comes into contact with water and tribromoacetic acid undergoes a decarboxylation reaction to form bromoform.
Benefits
- None of the issues of unpalatability of bromoform
- The present composition (non-volatile) may be utilized in a block in which a ruminant animal can graze thereupon until their desired intake of a certain component thereof has been ingested
- The amount of halogenated alkanoic acid, and thus activated ingredient, can be tailored such that the appropriate amount of activated ingredient is delivered or produced by the ruminant animal
- Reducing the amount of methane produced can improve one or more production trait(s) of the ruminant animal
Intellectual Property
An Australian provisional patent application No. 2025900297 titled “A Composition and Method for Reducing Methane Productions” was filed on 4 February 2025. Prior art searches have not revealed any documents or patents indicating prior discovery of the methodology. It is intended that patent protection will be sought in the major markets including the United States of America, Canada, Europe, Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.
Applications
- Reduction in methane production in ruminants
- Improved production traits due to redirected energy otherwise lost to methane production
Commercial opportunity
UniSC is seeking a commercialisation partner for the development and deployment of the Technology, in the target applications for all countries outside Australia.
The commercialisation strategy for this technology is to integrate the composition into various animal feeds and evaluate the compositions in a range of ruminant animals.
Brief note on scientific founders
Professor Nick Paul– is a biologist in the School of Science, Technology and Engineering. He leads applied R&D on seaweed and algae for new product development, based upon a platform of sustainable production. He is the project leader on two international research for development projects, focused on domesticating new species, creating new culture techniques and developing bio products for farmed seaweed in the Indo-Pacific region. His interests in Australia revolve around high-value products, including functional food and nutraceuticals for human health as well as bio actives for livestock and agriculture. Because of its sustainability focus, this research has led to some unusual deviations from traditional aquaculture, working with sewage, coal-fired power stations and mining and mineral wastes.
Professor Peter Brooks
Dr Silvia Blanco González – is an environmental scientist that holds a two-year master´s degree in Aquaculture and Fisheries from the University of the Algarve (Portugal). In 2018 she moved to Ireland to join the Bantry Marine Research Station Ltd. where she worked in a three-year nationally funded project looking at seaweed biomass cultivation and bio-active compounds characterization and quantification. For two years (2018-2019), she was also part of the project Methane Reduction in Cattle funded by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, aimed at quantifying bromoform in different seaweed species present in Irish waters. She is currently a PhD candidate at the University of the Sunshine Coast looking at the natural variation of bromoform biosynthesis in the species Asparagopsis taxiformis.
Dr David Heyne
Mr Murray Olsson– as Operations Manager is part of a third generation of Olsson family members now at the helm of Olsson Industries Pty Ltd, a brand that is now a byword for livestock nutritional supplementation across Australia.
Mr David Dwyer– is the business development manager and product development specialist at Olsson Industries Pty Ltd.
Contact
For further information concerning the commercial opportunity please contact:
Michael Finney – Commercialisation Advisor