P.PSH.1329 - Rumensin capsules for bloat control and sustainability

Summary

Frothy bloat in grass-fed cattle is a well-known phenomenon and was estimated to cost southern Australian producers ca. $80M in 2015. Whereas the condition was largely controlled by administering low doses of the ionophore chemical monensin, this was disrupted when Rumensin® slow-release rumen capsules were withdrawn from the market in 2013, due to inconsistent performance. This project will validate the efficacy of a new and improved version of Rumensin in wide-scale field trials, whilst also developing the commercially up-scaled production method.

Objectives

​​Manufacture scale-up: [ACHIEVED]
Deliver 4,500 capsules for field demonstration.
​Document and deliver data to meet APVMA manufacturing change pathway requirements.

​Producer demonstration:
Obtain an APVMA Field Trial Permit for 22 sites and 7,500 cattle.
Recruit trial sites that comply with the enrolment criteria.
Complete the field performance and slaughter study, recording weight gains, bloat scores, and payout from spent capsules collected at slaughter. Record emissions mitigated per head based on productivity data in accordance with the ERF herd management method calculator.

Complete two pasture-feedlot transition studies, recording morbidity, treatments, mortality, and diagnoses (where possible).

​Emission mitigation benefit awareness:
Complete guidance on the emissions mitigation opportunity anticipated from capsule use, based on previously established productivity benefit and the ERF herd management method calculator.

​Communications and stakeholder engagement:
​Commence a plan of communication and stakeholder engagement activities to support commercialisation and adoption post launch.

Key findings

Only the first objective of this project was completed as the work was terminated early.

This project was expected to generate the remaining data needed to fulfil the APVMA’s registration requirements for a monensin controlled release intra-ruminal capsule for preventing bloat and increasing productivity in cattle. It will also demonstrate to producers the efficacy of the reformulated capsule under commercial conditions. As a new practice with proven productivity benefits based on prior experience and label claims, capsule use will also enable reduced emissions intensity to be calculated and recognised.​

Benefits to industry

The learnings of this project will not reach industry as the work was not complete.

MLA action

This online summary will be published on the MLA R&D website.

Future research

There is potential for a similar study to be completed in this area of research in the future.