New equation powers Australian feedlot decision making
19/01/2026
Developed by the University of New England and funded by Meat & Livestock Australia for the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association, the revised equation suggests methane emissions from feedlot cattle are more than 50% lower than previously estimated.
Consulting nutritionist Dr Rob Lawrence of Integrated Animal Production said the new approach is simpler and based on data feedlots already collect, such as feed intake, ration composition and nutrient values. This allows methane to be reported alongside existing performance measures including average daily gain and feed conversion.
The equation also enables feedlots to assess the cost effectiveness of methane reducing feed additives. While these can deliver mitigation rates of more than 80%, cost, inclusion challenges and product stability remain barriers to wider uptake.
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