C-Lock Inc.’s GreenFeed technology helps cattle producers optimize herd efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to a more sustainable beef and dairy production system.
As demand for beef and dairy remains high worldwide, producers are striving to help them meet this demand while growing more efficient herds and maintaining a healthier planet.
How exactly does a more efficient herd of cows help ensure a healthier planet? Such animals convert feed more efficiently, with less input and less waste including emissions. When producers optimize efficiency, they reduce environmental footprint per unit of production. It’s not just a good business, but a key part of building a more sustainable food system.
Optimizes herd efficiency
When it comes to optimizing cattle efficiency, measuring emissions is essential.
C-Lock, Inc. Dr. Meredith Harrison, Chief Science Officer of the company, explained: “Efficient animals are more productive and profitable. Monitoring herd efficiency allows for early detection of problems, reduce performance variability, and leads to better use of resources.”
C-Lock Inc. offers the global standard for cattle emissions and efficiency measurement solutions. C-Rock began as a startup in Rapid City, South Dakota in 2005 and established itself as a global leader in cattle emission research technology in just 20 years. Producers, businesses and scientists in 47 countries are currently using C-Lock’s GreenFeed technology to research innovative solutions to improve herd efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from beef and dairy operations.
C-Lock, Inc. Scott Zimmerman, president of the company, explained: “GreenFeed is a precision tool that measures methane, carbon dioxide and other metabolic gases spit out by cows during a short visit to a specialized feeding station. It is a scientifically verified, field-based system that can be deployed. The sustainability of their herd.”
Identify top performance cows
According to Harrison, the technique helps identify 25% of proven cattle in the top and bottom of the herd. She said: “By tracking metabolic gases at individual levels, GreenFeed reveals metabolic efficiency. How each animal effectively converts it into production, while minimizing emissions. This identifies animals that are not only more productive, but more environmentally efficient, allowing producers to make smarter breeding, culling and management decisions.”
Harrison said this type of selection pressure could have a major impact on environmental health.
She explained: “By supporting the selection and management of exhaust animals, green feeds directly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from livestock. What is exciting about genetic selection is that these effects are cumulative and permanent.
Globally, widespread use of this data can lead to more sustainable production systems and support climate-smart agricultural practices that meet both productivity and environmental goals.
Benefits global research
Scientists from institutions and universities around the world rely on green feeds to enhance their research to provide accurate, high-resolution emission data across environments, animals and research protocols. GreenFeed data allows researchers to investigate genetic, nutritional and environmental factors that affect emissions and production efficiency. Data is comparable across institutions and regions, which helps accelerate global climate and livestock research.
Harrison said the study proved to be particularly beneficial for Supply Company’s supply. An example of how such research directly affects the cattle industry was developed by DSM and Elanco. ™ A Bovaer® feed additive produced through research. Studies using green feed technology have shown that intestinal methane emissions of approximately 1.2 metric tons (MT) CO2E per year of dairy products per year of dairy products per year of 30%, with beef up to 45%.
Harrison said: “The only effective way to verify the reduction of agricultural methane from methane inhibitors like Bovaer is to use non-invasive, flux-based CH4 measurements.”
“For businesses focused on sustainability, GreenFeed provides the reliable data needed to verify environmental progress and report emissions in an elusive range 3. Whether part of a supply chain initiative or a company’s sustainability program, GreenFeed enables transparent, science-based measurement and accountability of livestock emission reductions.
“Green feeds help producers identify which animals are providing the best economic and environmental returns. Accurate insights into methane output, feed efficiency and performance allow producers to optimize management costs, reduce input costs and demonstrate sustainability leadership.
At the national level, empirical lush baits are used to improve the IPCC methane prediction equation. Harrison said: “High-quality emissions data is needed to develop accurate predictions.” In Ireland, Teagasc researchers recently assessed the emissions of grazing cows throughout breastfeeding. Researchers reported that there could be substantial differences in methane emissions when compared to green feed measured methane and predicted methane using international default methane conversion factors. These differences are particularly prominent during the spring grazing season. ²
Harrison emphasized that this type of study is important for quantifying the methane output from various meals and production stages required to develop accurate domestic inventory.
Measurement of feed efficiency
In addition to GreenFeed, C-Lock Inc. also offers SmartFeed’s line of solutions for performance evaluation. Harrison said SmartFeed is monitoring feed intake. This is an important indicator for tracking herd health, efficiency and economic benefits.
Harrison said: “SmartFeed is a precision feeding system that measures individual feed intake to monitor performance and animal health. The system uses real-time data monitoring and cloud-based connectivity, so users receive automated reports and email alerts. SmartFeed tests a variety of diets, evaluates supplementary responses, and improves feed efficiency.” Unlike other intake monitoring systems, SmartFeed offers full data ownership and transparency.
According to Harrison, choosing to improve feed efficiency has been shown to bring great economic benefits to cattle production and feedlot operations by allowing producers to reduce feed costs, closely monitor herd health, and make better breeding and culling decisions.
She said it would be particularly beneficial to use both GreenFeed and SmartFeed technology in tandem. The power of the combination of technology is on display by Nichols Farm, a seedstock producer in Bridgewater, Iowa.
Harrison said: “SmartFeed and GreenFeed provide a complete picture of the inputs and outputs. How much animals consume, release and produce. This pairing allows for unparalleled insight into feed conversion, nutrition utilization and metabolic status, allowing producers and researchers to fine-tune nutrition and fine-tune animal health.”
Learn more about these technologies and how to leverage emissions and intake data for actionable insights from C-Lockinc.com flocks.
reference
Kebreab, E., et al. Meta-analysis of the effect of 3-nitoluoxypropanol on methane production, yield and strength in dairy cows. (2023). J Dairy Sci 106(2) 927-936. Teagus sac. “Intestinal methane: Generating a new baseline.” Teagasc, May 2025
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