Tesco to trial methane-reducing feed supplement for dairy cows

Tesco is partnering with one of its key UK dairy farms, to trial a methane-reducing feed supplement for dairy cows.

Grosvenor Farms, one of the original members of the Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG), has added a methane-reducing feed supplement to the diet of 400 cows as part of the trial.

In 2021, agriculture was responsible for 49% of all the UK’s methane and 71% of total nitrous oxide emissions, while only accounting for around 1.9% of total CO2. 

Cattle naturally produce methane as a by-product of being able to consume high-fiber food. Globally, cows and other farm animals are responsible for about 14% of human-induced climate emissions.

The ingredient Grosvenor Farms will be using is known as Bovaer, which has been shown to reduce methane emissions by up to 30%. 

The supplement suppresses the enzymes responsible for producing methane, leading to a reduction in the amount of methane produced as the cow digests its food with no impact on animal welfare.

As a result of the enhanced feed, the carbon footprint of each cow is projected to reduce by about 1.3 tonnes CO2e annually. If the four-month trial is successful, Tesco hopes to scale up the use of Bovaer across the TSDG, reducing emissions and helping to create a more sustainable food system.

Natalie Smith, Head of Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries at Tesco said: ‘Leading the transition to a low carbon agriculture sector is something we’re really passionate about at Tesco. We’ve been carrying out innovative trials like this for a number of years now, so I’m delighted we’re going to be partnering with Grosvenor Farms on a project that could have such a significant effect on emissions reduction in our supply chain.

‘It’s only by working alongside our suppliers and farmers that we’ll achieve our shared net zero ambitions, while continuing to provide our customers with quality British produce, including 100% British milk.’

Mark Roach, Managing Director, Grosvenor Farms, said: ‘We see commercial and environmental sustainability as mutually reinforcing, producing high-quality milk while also working to improve soil health, eliminate pollution and recycle waste. We already have one of the lowest carbon footprints for milk production in the UK and we are very pleased to be working with our partner Tesco to trial innovative technologies like Bovaer in order to develop a lower-carbon milk supply chain and in doing so support our ambition to be a carbon net zero milk producer by 2030.’