Smart feeders quantify methane reductions of cattle on range

University of California researchers are testing methane-reducing red seaweed additives on grazing cow-calf pairs using two innovative technologies.

A “Smart Feeder” reads each cow’s RFID eartag and weighs mineral supplements before and after consumption to calculate exactly how much seaweed each animal ingests. A separate “Green Feeder” dispenses alfalfa pellets to keep cows intrigued and stationed in a chamber-like hood for at least four minutes where sensors continuously measure the cow’s carbon dioxide and methane emissions. The second feeder calculates individual methane emissions and any potential reductions during the feeding trial.

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Virtual fencing provider Nofence now offers a new feature in its mobile app that allows farmers to visualize livestock movement over any selected time frame.

Users can track individual animals or entire herds, watching time-lapse movement play back across a map to investigate escapes or activity patterns. The feature, previously available only on account webpages, helps producers trace back events to understand what led to changes in animal behavior or location.

New York-based startup UdderWays has redesigned its Vortex system handles in stainless steel. The milestone represents development growth for the company which started selling its unique teat-cleaning approach with equipment 3D-printed or made of resin. The company recognized that eventually handles would need to be improved for durability to withstand demanding parlor environments.

The company also announced it is beginning the process of making its system available internationally in 2026 after previously remaining stateside. Dairy operations outside the U.S. interested in becoming pilot farms can now reach out to local dealerships to participate in testing.

Check out this previously published The Cow Tech Report article about the company, formerly only available to paid subscribers but now unlocked.

Digital twins, once limited to aerospace and advanced manufacturing, are now entering the barn. They are not futuristic novelties. They are practical instruments that help producers extract more value from the information already flowing through their farms.

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Texas A&M researcher says virtual fencing is “a game changer for absentee ranchers, older ranchers or ranchers that don’t have enough help.”

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Ruminant BioTech recently announced it has launched a CA$7.6 million research program in Canada to validate its methane-reducing technology designed specifically for pasture-based cattle.

Unlike feed additives requiring daily controlled feeding in a confined setting, the company’s slow-release bolus sits in the animal’s stomach and steadily delivers a methane-inhibiting compound for over 100 days with a single dose.

The three-year program, supported by a CA$2.8 million Alberta government grant, will generate data for expansion into other markets, including the U.S., Brazil and the European Union. The company targets treating 100 million cows globally by 2035.

Read more here.

News reports were summarized from original sources with AI and edited by the author.

Projected profitability for the next 12 months for two dairy herd sizes INCREASED in recent profit projections from ZISK.

ZISK is a profit projection smartphone app that tracks individual dairy farm profitability based on current CME board prices. Projections for a 1,000-cow dairy producing an average of 80 pounds of milk per cow and a 2,500-cow dairy producing an average of 85 pounds of milk per cow are provided.

12-month dairy farm profit projections (as of March 12, 2026):

1,000-cow dairy = $277,200 (UP about $9,650 in the last month)

2,500-cow dairy = $1.432 million (UP about $31,000 in the last month)