SBIR Phase I: Novel Probiotic-Based Feed Additive Formulation for Enteric Methane Mitigation

这项小企业创新研究（SBIR）项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力将是为奶牛开发一种价格合理、易于使用的新型饲料添加剂配方，这将减少肠道甲烷的产生，同时为生产者提供经济效益。甲烷是温室气体的第二大来源，反刍动物的饲养是一个重要来源。甲烷不仅对环境造成负担，而且对乳制品行业也是一种浪费，因为它在动物消化系统中的形成会导致肉类、牛奶、皮革或动物劳动的潜在能量损失10%。因此，消费者、倡导者和乳制品行业越来越希望生产出更环保的产品。采用这种新型饲料添加剂配方的初步结果表明，饲料效率的提高将使人均收入增加20美元，同时肠道甲烷生成减少50%。该SBIR一期项目拟开发一种新型益生菌，当与硝酸盐配对时，将减少奶牛肠道甲烷排放。研究计划将包括四个连续28天的阶段，其中21天用于饲料适应，7天用于数据和样本收集，以评估硝酸盐和东方紫菜配方的效果。实验将包括一个复制的4 × 4拉丁方形设计。8头经瘤胃插管、泌乳中期的多产荷斯坦奶牛将被分配到两个拉丁广场中的一个，并在四个时期内分别饲喂四种日粮。本研究完成后，将根据所得数据进行更精确的成本效益分析，其中包括产奶量、氮平衡、代谢数据和甲烷排放量。此外，该计划是通过测序来检查瘤胃微生物组，以更好地了解作用模式。结合产品制造成本，这些数据将用于确定该产品的可行性。生产更环保的乳制品、减少食源性病原体、降低发病率/死亡率和提高饲料效率有望节省成本。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project will be to develop an affordable, easy-to-use, novel feed additive formulation for dairy cows that will result in reduced enteric methane production while providing financial benefits for producers. Methane is the second largest contributor to greenhouse gases and the raising of ruminant animals is a significant source. Methane is not only burdensome to the environment, it is also wasteful to the dairy industry because its formation in animal digestive systems creates a 10% loss in potential energy for meat, milk, leather, or animal labor. As such, there is growing desire from consumers, advocates, and the dairy industry to produce a more environmentally friendly product. Preliminary results of incorporating this novel feed additive formulation point towards an additional $20 of income per head from the increase in feed efficiency, along with a 50% decrease in enteric methane formation. This SBIR Phase I project proposes to develop a novel probiotic that, when paired with nitrate, will reduce enteric methane emissions in dairy cows. The research plan will include four successive 28-day periods, with 21 days for diet adaptation and seven days for data and sample collection, to assess the effects of a nitrate and P. fortis formulation. The experiment will consist of a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design. Eight ruminally-cannulated, mid-lactation multiparous Holstein cows will be assigned to one of two Latin squares and fed each of four diets over the four periods. After completion of this study, a more precise cost-benefit analysis will be performed with the resulting data, which will include milk yields, nitrogen balance, metabolic data, and methane outputs. In addition, the plan is to examine the rumen microbiome via sequencing to better understand the mode of action. In conjunction with the product manufacturing cost, this data will be used to determine the feasibility of this product. Cost savings are expected from producing a more environmentally friendly dairy, a reduction in foodborne pathogens, a decrease in morbidity/mortality, and an increase in feed efficiency.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.