Livestock project to find sustainable feed begins

January 6, 2026 / Billboard Lifestyle /

A four-year study will look at how alternative feeds, that might have a smaller environmental impact, can be produced for livestock.

Ryegrass, cereals and other protein-rich feeds are often used but supplies are susceptible to climate change, pollution and unstable prices, the University of Reading said.

Prof Sokratis Stergiadis, who will lead the project for the university, said it will look at “everything from how animals respond to different feeds to what this means for farmers, the environment, food quality and consumers”.

The €4m (£3.5m) EU-funded research also involves researchers from other countries including Belgium, Spain, Italy and Ireland.

“The project combines laboratory research, on-farm studies, life-cycle assessments and close collaboration with the farming and feed sectors,” Stergiadis added.

“This can deliver solutions that are practical and ready for use, reducing Europe’s dependence on imported protein and cutting the environmental footprint of livestock farming.”