SUSTAINABILITY FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE July 2024 59 that when Selko® IntelliBond® completely replaced the use of sulfate trace minerals in the ration, the cow’s carbon footprint was reduced by up to 2% per kg FPCM. This result confirms that a quality source of trace mineral nutrition can assist with the reduction of the cow’s carbon footprint. To further verify the LCA’s results, the Selko® IntelliBond® LCA was independently reviewed by Dr E. Kebreab, Professor, University of California, Davis, confirming that the LCA was compliant with the industry status. Minerals can alter cost of production. When formulating a mineral, it is important to look at all sources of macro and trace elements which can lead to a cost-saving or cost-neutral scenario while ensuring adequate amounts are being fed. WHY IS INGREDIENT SUSTAINABILITY IMPORTANT? Farmers and their nutritionist and/or advisors should consider how every decision on the farm affects the carbon footprint. The purpose of such scrutiny is to minimise negative effects on the environment at every stage of the formulation process. It is important to use products that have a verified LCA and to determine how this will affect the product’s LCA in kg/ tonne. It is also necessary to consider how this affects milk production and the footprint per kg fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM). Increasingly, today’s feed compounders, premixers, and nutritionists are requesting the total carbon footprint for all ingredients utilised in their blends. To provide this data, Selko® IntelliBond® completed an additional LCA focused on identifying each Selko® IntelliBond® product’s total carbon footprint at the conclusion of the manufacturing process. The LCA was independently verified by Dr Kebreab. Results of the LCA provide formulators and nutritionists with the values they require to compare the carbon footprints of various ingredients and additives while maintaining the blend’s nutritional requirements (see Table 1). Is the company you are purchasing from actively involved in sourcing materials with as low a carbon footprint as possible? If high, carbon emitting ingredients are used, is this justified? For example, do such ingredients have a positive effect on animal performance and reduce carbon footprint per kg FPCM? Sustainability must be reviewed in a holistic manner including at the level of mineral nutrition. Data from trials continues to show that even a small component of the diet can have significant influence on the end carbon footprint per kg FPCM. It’s an easy win! CO2eq/Mt Product %Metal CO2eq/Kg Metal Product 4.78 Kg 3.60 Kg 5.84 Kg %54 %55 %44 2.58 Mt 1.98 Mt 2.57 Mt IntelliBond C IntelliBond Z IntelliBond M Table 1. CO2eq values (in bold) are expressed as Mt. per Mt of final product. CO2eq/Kg of metal represents the number of Kgs of CO2eq per Kg of pure metal. The level of metal concentration for each IntelliBond product is provided to facilitate comparisons with alternative trace mineral sources. About Liz Homer Dr. Liz Homer studied BSc Animal Science at the University of Nottingham and went on to complete a PhD in Dairy Cow Physiology and Fertility. After being awarded her PhD she then worked as a post doctoral scientist for a couple of years focusing on oestrous detection and expression, dairy cow nutrition trials, and assisting in trials focusing on the rumen microbiome and methane reduction. She joined Trouw Nutrition GB in 2015 as Ruminant Technical Development Manager focusing on linking R&D with practical, applicable solutions for use at customer and farm level. Her role involves working closely with the company's Global Ruminant Innovation Team and technically supporting many of its customers in the market. Homer has been instrumental in the development and application of many R&D projects, most notably the NutriOpt Dairy Model and NutriOpt solutions. Liz Homer's main focus is now on sustainability where she leads the European team in driving and implementing Trouw Nutrition's sustainability strategy for ruminants.
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