GreenFeed and SmartLine by C-Lock give full visibility into cattle intake and emissions, improving feed efficiency, profitability, and sustainability.
Feed efficiency sits at the intersection of productivity, profitability, and sustainability. For decades, producers have known that small improvements in how animals convert feed into milk or meat can mean big gains, but accurate measurement tools were limited.
C-Lock Inc. has changed that. With advanced technologies like GreenFeed and our SmartLine of products (SmartLine), the company is empowering producers and researchers to understand both sides of the equation – what cattle consume and what they emit. These innovations are redefining how the industry measures and manages efficiency, unlocking new opportunities for sustainable growth in both beef and dairy production.
Why feed efficiency matters
Feed accounts for up to 70% of the total cost of raising livestock. The more efficiently cattle use what they eat, the higher the return and the smaller the environmental footprint. Yet, efficiency is shaped by countless factors: diet, genetics, health, and even the microbes in the rumen, making it notoriously hard to quantify.
Until recently, producers relied on herd averages or estimates. Without individual-animal data, it was difficult to fine-tune diets or breeding programmes. C-Lock’s systems bridge that gap, offering real-time insight into how each animal eats, converts feed, and releases methane.
GreenFeed: Global standard in emissions monitoring
The GreenFeed system measures methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), and other emissions from individual animals during short, voluntary visits. Cattle approach the unit for a small feed reward while the system collects breath samples and quantifies emissions.
This simple interaction delivers accurate, repeatable data in real-world environments – on farms, feedlots, or research facilities. The information enables producers and scientists to understand how diet, genetics, and management affect emissions and efficiency.
GreenFeed is now a cornerstone technology for methane-reduction research and implementation. It’s used globally to test feed additives, management strategies, and breeding programmes aimed at reducing greenhouse gas output. Verified GreenFeed data supports carbon offset projects, sustainability certification, and science-based policy development.
By translating animal emissions into actionable data, GreenFeed empowers decision-makers to manage both productivity and environmental impact.
SmartLine: Individual animal insights in feed, water, and weight
Our SmartLine of products gives you the data-driven insights you need to make better decisions for your herd. Our precision feeding, watering, and weighing systems capture individual-animal intake, tracking how much, how often, and what each cow eats, drinks, and weighs.
For beef operations, SmartLine highlights animals that convert feed most efficiently – vital data for genetic selection and herd improvement. In dairy herds, it helps nutritionists fine-tune rations to maximise milk yield and maintain cow health. This gives farms direct insights into their return on investment from feeding and how to increase productivity and lessen emissions even further.
In addition to SmartLine, C-Lock also manufactures its SmartScale and SmartWater. The SmartWater records individual animal water intake while the scale measures individual animal body weight as they drink. The two can be used together as one unit or separately.
When paired with GreenFeed, our SmartLine products complete the picture, allowing users to link intake and emission data for a true measure of efficiency.
Integration for a full view of efficiency
The real power of C-Lock’s technology lies in integration. Together, GreenFeed and SmartLine create a comprehensive system that connects nutrition, performance, and sustainability.
This combined data enables users to:
- Correlate feed intake with methane output, improving feed efficiency models.
- Evaluate feed additives not just for emission reductions but for their impact on growth, milk, or health.
- Develop balanced management strategies that reduce emissions without sacrificing performance.
For instance, if a new feed additive lowers methane but changes intake, C-Lock’s dual-system data reveals whether overall efficiency improves or declines. That depth of understanding drives smarter, more sustainable decisions.
Turning data into decisions
Both systems are powered by C-Lock’s advanced algorithms, which automatically collect and analyse data from every visit and feeding event. The algorithms, combined with C-Locks’ data experts, translate this raw information into clear visual reports: charts, trends, and summaries, making complex science accessible and actionable.
Users can compare performance across groups or treatments, track long-term progress, and generate reports for research publications or sustainability programmes. The data can be shared securely among collaborators, helping producers, nutritionists, and scientists align around a common goal: continuous improvement and innovation.
Supporting sustainability and accountability
The livestock sector faces growing expectations to demonstrate environmental responsibility. Methane emissions from ruminants are a major focus for governments, retailers, and consumers alike.
C-Lock provides the measurement foundation needed for credible action. With verifiable, science-based data, producers can quantify emission reductions, participate in carbon markets, and communicate progress transparently.
GreenFeed and SmartLine are also key tools for national greenhouse-gas inventories and for developing low-carbon beef and dairy supply chains. By offering accurate, animal-level measurements, they make sustainability measurable, manageable, and marketable.
The path forward
Feed efficiency has always been central to livestock success. Today, it’s also the foundation of sustainability. C-Lock’s GreenFeed and SmartLine systems deliver the insight needed to optimise both.
By measuring intake and emissions side by side, these technologies give producers and researchers the knowledge to improve productivity, reduce environmental impact, and validate sustainability claims with confidence.
From feedlot to dairy parlour, from research trial to commercial application, C-Lock is helping the global livestock industry feed the future efficiently, profitably, and responsibly.
