Researchers at Oregon State University have partnered with a seaweed grower to see if adding seaweed to the diets of beef cattle, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions; it gives all new meaning to the term “surf and turf.”  OSU Project Director Juliana Ranches said they’ll study whether feeding a native Oregon seaweed reduces the amount of methane produced.

 

“The Pacific Dulse is more common in this area of the country. And we know that some studies have shown that Pacific Dulse has the ability to reduce methane as the other seaweeds.”

 

Ranches said Pacific Dulse can also be grown in tanks, which means it can be produced beyond the coast.  Pacific Dulse is also very high in protein, so researchers will also look at how the change in nutrients impacts cattle.

 

“Part of the study is also to try and fine-tune the seaweed and add other things to it," Ranches noted.  "So, micronutrients. We wanted to try to manipulate that to make it a super-nutritious supplement for animals.”

 

OSU is partnering with commercial seaweed producer Oregon Seaweed on the study.

 

 

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