The Keenan Solution to Dairy Emissions

GENERAL - Across the world scientists are trying to find new ways of cutting the methane emissions from dairy cattle, but two researchers think they have found an answer.
calendar icon 17 September 2008
clock icon 2 minute read

David Beever, from Reading University in England, and Tony Hull, from the University of Illinois in the US, are key parties to this research, reports The Age. The research has been conducted with private Irish agribusiness group Richard Keenan & Co.

"We have a system that delivers a more efficient conversion of energy into milk, better rumen and digestive health, better animal health, and better nutrition," Professor Beever, author of more than 450 research publications, told The Age.

The Keenan approach is about repositioning agriculture through the use of science. To this end, it has put together an advisory board made up of experts in various fields. Professor Beever and Professor Hull are part of this group.

The Keenan system, used around the world, provides nutrition strategies through the use of its mixer wagon. Keenan's patented process is called "mechfibre", which is based on the science of how an animal best digests feed in its rumen and absorbs the nutrients.

According to The Age, the Keenan wagon chops and mixes the feed to a consistency the animal can digest. In turn, this achieves the feed conversion efficiency that Keenan has shown through research.

Professor Beever said the use of mechfibre on 270 farms in Britain and France over a year had shown the clear impact of nutrition, with milk output up 18-21%. "That (result) means more milk for the same amount of feed," he said.

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