Sundown is pleased to announce its UK-produced forage fibre feed ingredient, NIS (nutritionally improved straw), has been added to the Global Feed Lifecycle Analysis Institute (GFLI) database with a carbon dioxide equivalent value of just 177kg/t CO₂e.

This independently verified figure compares very favourably with many commonly used imported fibre ingredients and underlines the potential of UK by-products to reduce the carbon footprint of milk production.

As the dairy sector faces increasing pressure to cut embedded emissions, the carbon footprint of animal feed is under growing scrutiny. Feed remains one of the largest contributors to the overall carbon footprint of milk production, making ingredient choice a critical lever for change.

David Cubitt, director at Sundown Products, says, "One of the biggest carbon impacts in the production of milk comes from feed. If you include low-carbon ingredients in that feed, you can lower the carbon footprint of milk significantly."

The inclusion of NIS in the GFLI database as a processed cultivated ingredient provides independently recognised confirmation of its low embedded carbon impact. With a CO₂e value of just 177kg/t, NIS compares very favourably with widely used fibre sources such as palm kernel and soya hulls, which are typically imported and carry higher emissions linked to transport and land use.

NIS is manufactured by Sundown from British straw, a by-product of cereal production, using renewable electricity and transported short distances. This approach avoids the deforestation risks and long supply chains often associated with imported fibre ingredients. All of these factors are fully captured within GFLI's standardised lifecycle assessment framework, which accounts for land use, processing, and transport.

"Many  digestible fibre ingredients used in UK dairy feeds are imported from regions with high risk for environmental damage, and  incur high transport emissions. UK-produced NIS avoids deforested regions entirely and delivers the fibre requirements  of a cow's diet much more efficiently," explains Mr Cubitt.

"This should give confidence  to dairy processors supplying supermarkets who are increasingly looking to reduce their carbon footprint, without raising prices for consumers," he says.

Beyond its carbon credentials, NIS delivers functional nutritional benefits in grazing and mixed feeding systems. The slow pool fibre in NIS buffers the rumen more effectively  than seed coat fibres, and enables higher levels of starch and sugars to be fed. In turn, this can improve protein utilisation and ultimately reduce protein usage per unit of output

This is particularly relevant in grazed and grass silage based dairy systems.  Lush grass  supplies more protein than cows can effectively use. Poor protein utilisation increases nitrogen losses and contributes significantly to the carbon footprint of grass-based milk.

"Grass farmers are often surprised that the embedded carbon of grass-based milk is high, largely because protein utilisation is poor. By reducing dietary protein and improving utilisation, you can make a meaningful environmental improvement," explains Mr Cubitt.

Sundown has recently launched RumiCube 10, a high-starch, high digestible fibre, pelleted feed containing NIS, rolled wheat and rolled beans which is designed to buffer good-quality grass.

Find out more about Sundown's feed range on its website www.sundownagri.co.uk