Dairy herd grazing on the Wolfe’s Neck Center farm. Wolfe’s Neck is an outreach dairy partner of the Coast to Cow to Consumer project (Photo by Wolfe’s Neck Center).
By Dr. Nichole Price, Senior Scientist, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
The Coast Cow Consumer (C3) project investigates novel algae-based feed additives. We seek naturally produced compounds that reduce enteric methane emissions and enhance milk quality and production.
Certain marine alga feed additives (for example, Asparagopsis spp.) have very limited availability on the market, and are not yet certified by FDA. However, alternative algae formulations may be just as effective at drastically reducing methane ‘burps’ and provide additional cow nutritional benefits. C3 focuses on algal strains that are far more scalable for mass production, use recycled natural resources, and are often already GRAS certified.
C3 is a partnership across research nonprofits (Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, William H. Miner Institute), academic institutes (Colby College, University of New Hampshire, University of Vermont, Clarkson University, Syracuse University) and outreach specialists (Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Wolfe’s Neck Center). Collectively, we use laboratory assays, animal feeding trials, mathematical modeling exercises, socioeconomic impact analyses, life cycle assessment, techno economic analyses, and stakeholder engagement activities to develop pragmatic candidate products. Our solutions balance environmental, economic, and social considerations together with aquaculturists’ and dairy farmers’ interest and acceptance.
C3 program director Dr. Nichole Price will be presenting the latest research from the first two years of our five-year project at the 2024 NEAFA Annual Meeting, and we invite you to join us!
For more information, visit our website at coastcowconsumer.com