Rumin8's methane-reducing feed additive, launching commercially in 2027, cuts enteric methane emissions by roughly 80% while improving cattle feed efficiency by 4.1-10.7% and potentially generating up to $137 in additional earnings per animal annually through carbon credits and productivity gains.
- Rumin8's granule-based feed additive reduces enteric methane emissions by approximately 80%, with commercial launch planned for late 2027 in Brazil
- The additive improves beef cattle feed efficiency by 4.1-10.7% and dairy cow milk production by up to 4.6%, according to company trials
- Farmers can earn up to $137 per animal annually through combined feed efficiency gains and carbon credit sales
- Rumin8 uses bromoform, a naturally occurring compound from seaweed, as the active ingredient in its methane-reducing formula
- The company will expand sales across Latin America before entering U.S. and European markets in 2-3 years due to longer regulatory timelines
Future users of Rumin8's methane-reducing feed additive should be able to sell carbon credits to offset the cost of the product—but they may not need to.
According to the company's latest trials, Rumin8's flagship feed additive improves beef cattle feed efficiency by 4.1-10.7%. Other studies suggest the additive could improve dairy cow milk production by as much as 4.6%, according to Rumin8.
The additive also reduce enteric methane emissions by roughly 80% — reductions that could be used to generate and sell carbon credits. Athian, a carbon credit trading platform dedicated to livestock supply chains, announced on July 29 that it had sold credits generated by Rumin8 and Minerva foods pilot project.
Between the improved feed efficiency and the methane benefits, Rumin8 estimates the additive could yield up to $137 in additional earnings per animal per year.
“Success is always about farmers being able to make money from the innovation, and that has been the lens through which we have approached Rumin8 products,” Rumin8 CEO David Messina said. “We can't rely on subsidies or grants to make it work.”
Rumin8 focuses on feed additives based on bromoform, a naturally occurring compound responsible for the emission-reducing properties associated with certain seaweeds. Like other groups studying seaweed's methane-reducing effects, Rumin8 saw improved performance in some early trials, Messina said
But the company's results were initially inconsistent, he said — sometimes the additives improved productivity, and sometimes they didn't. Messina said Rumin8 now believes that inconsistency was related to the stability of the additive. The company's first product, an oil-based additive, seemed to be more sensitive to environmental conditions. Intense heat or rain, for example, may have affected how much active ingredient remained available to the animals.
Rumin8 has seen more consistent results in its most recent trials, in which it used a granule-based product. That product will be the first Rumin8 brings to market, with sales set to begin as early as late 2027 in Brazil, Messina said.
Rumin8 plans to run at least one more large-scale pilot with more than 1,000 animals before the 2027 launch confirm its results, Messina said. Then the company will expand sales across Latin America. Rumin8 does not expect to begin sales in the U.S. or Europe for another 2-3 years, because of the longer regulatory processes in those markets.
