“BetterFeed™ – The tiny pill turning cow burps into productivity

<p>Cows are upcyclers, turning grass into milk and meat—but their digestion also wastes up to <strong>10 % of feed energy as methane.</strong> </p><p>Methane has a global warming potential ~28–80× higher than CO₂. Our guest, <strong>Tom Williams</strong> (CEO &amp; co‑founder of Number 8 Bio), explains how his team screened thousands of compounds to create <strong>BetterFeed™</strong>, a small organic molecule delivered in a <strong>slow‑release bolus</strong>. Once in the rumen, it <strong>prevents methane‑producing microbes from growing and redirects carbon and hydrogen back into growth</strong>. In trials, BetterFeed has cut methane emissions by over <strong>80 %</strong> while improving weight gain and milk quality.</p><p>Tom also answers a listener question about taking a technology from TRL 2 to TRL 7, shares why he’s been thinking about methane since his childhood in rural New Zealand, and leaves us with a hopeful note:<strong> humans have only scratched the surface of what’s possible.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Learn more: </strong>BetterFeed science ➜ <a href="https://www.number8.bio/the-science" target="_new" rel="noopener">number8.bio/the-science</a></p>