Methane packs a one-two punch — its environmental effects plus the energy wasted in its production — but researchers are constantly working to develop effective parries. A recent Journal of Dairy Science article indicates that a dietary supplement combining flaxseed and pea protein could reduce production of the gas while simultaneously optimizing digestion. Key to the University of Florida study is flaxseed’s omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content, which in a nonruminally protected form can lower methane production. However, that effect comes with a potential cost: That same lack of protection can reduce digestibility and thus cut into omega-3’s health benefits, which previous research has shown to include improved immunity and reduction in metritis and ketosis. The researchers also noted that an effective PUFA-enriched diet for cattle could boost the nutrient value of the food they provide to humans.

The current study aimed to pin down whether a ruminally protected form of flaxseed could strike a balance between the oilseed’s digestive downside and its role in reduction of methane. The authors concluded that while more research is needed, their results showed lowered methane production while simultaneously improved digestion in the arenas of ruminal pH and organic matter degradation. And while they caution that the reduction in methane is variable because it hinges on that incomplete protection from ruminal degradation, the results might provide a starting point to counter methane’s twin environmental and productivity wallops.

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