A biotechnology startup led by an Illinois native is developing a cattle feed additive aimed at reducing methane emissions while improving digestion and feed efficiency.
Hoofprint Biome co-founder and CEO Kathryn Polkoff says the company is working with enzymes and probiotics that target the microbial activity in a cow’s digestive system. The goal is to make cattle production more efficient and profitable while cutting emissions.
According to the University of Illinois, the company has secured investor funding for a research and development facility and employs 12 people. It is scaling production through yeast fermentation as it works toward delivering the enzymes and probiotics in a feed additive.
Polkoff says the company’s research focuses on changing the gut microbiome to reduce methane production and support digestive health. The university’s announcement did not provide commercial availability, pricing or cattle trial results showing the level of methane reduction or improvement in feed efficiency.
Polkoff grew up in Wilmette, Illinois, and initially planned to become a large-animal veterinarian. Working in University of Illinois animal sciences professor Matthew Wheeler’s laboratory introduced her to biotechnology and shifted her career toward livestock research.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences in 2015 and completed a master’s degree in 2017. Her graduate research involved CRISPR gene editing in beef and dairy cattle, including work related to genetic defects, milk production and adaptation to tropical climates.
While pursuing a doctorate in veterinary biomedical sciences at North Carolina State University, Polkoff teamed up with fellow doctoral student Scott Collins to establish Hoofprint Biome. Their backgrounds combined livestock research with enzyme and microbiome engineering.
Polkoff received a 2026 Young Alumni Award from the University of Illinois Alumni Association. She credits her research experience at Illinois with helping lay the groundwork for the company’s work in cattle production.