A huge row row has broken out in Denmark after a number of dairy farmers claim their cows have been poisoned by the methane-reducing feed additive Bovaer. Several farmers have reported major health issues in their cows – including fevers, diarrhea, fertility and condition problems, cows collapsing and even some that have died.
Bovaer is a feed additive containing the active ingredient 3-nitrooxypropanol or 3-NOP, which reduces methane emissions produced by cattle. Manufactured by Swiss company dsm-firmenich, it’s designed to be added to cow feed in small quantities to inhibit a specific enzyme in the animal’s digestive system. It’s reported to cut methane production by as much as 30 percent in dairy cows.
Regulatory bodies like the Food Standards Agency in the United Kingdom and the European Food Safety Authority in the European Union have approved Bovaer for use in many countries, stating it’s safe for consumers, animals and the environment.
And since Oct. 1, the Danish government made it compulsory for farms with more than 50 cows to add Bovaer to their dairy rations for at least 80 days per year. If the farmers don’t comply they face heavy fines.