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.
But with more cows becoming unwell, farmers have stopped using Bovaer to prevent further poisoning. There are about 2,000 dairy farmers in Denmark, 1,400 of which are thought to have started feeding Bovaer as of Oct. 1. The Danish Dairy Board is advising farmers to report any issues with the additive.
Anders Ring, 39, milks 600 cows near the small town of Gredstedbro just 3 kilometers from the North Sea on the southern Denmark coast. He’s married to Mette; they have four young children under 10 years old. He bought his farm just six years ago from a bank.
“I own 123 hectares on this farm (about 304 acres) but also rent other land to give me a total of 280 hectares (about 700 acres).
Click here to see more...