Bovaer®, is a feed supplement created by DSM-Firmenich (see refs.), designed to lower methane emissions in ruminants such as cattle.
Bovaer has been approved for use worldwide (65+ countries), including in the EU [September 2003(see refs.)], UK, Australia, Canada[January 2024], and the US [May 2024(see refs.)].
The first countries to approve Bovaer were Brazil and Chile in 2021.
Contents
Active ingredient
The active ingredient in Bovaer is 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) (see refs.).
How it works
In a cow’s stomach, tiny microbes help digest food, which releases gases like hydrogen and carbon dioxide. These gases combine to make methane with the help of an enzyme.
Bovaer blocks this enzyme, so the cow makes less methane.
How much Bovaer per cow ?
DSM generally recommends about ¼ teaspoon of Bovaer per cow per day. This typically equates to 60 mg of active 3-NOP(see refs.) per cow per day (depending on the exact formulation/density).
Costs & Calculator
This calculator is for information purposes and provides an approximate price based on 2024 data. The actual price may vary.
Side effects
According to DSM-Firmenich, Bovaer has been in development for 15 years and helps farmers reduce methane emissions from dairy, beef, and other ruminant herds, contributing to the fight against global warming.
It is described as the most thoroughly researched and scientifically validated solution to reduce methane emissions caused by cattle burps.
With over 130 on-farm trials across 20 countries and more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific studies, DSM-Firmenich states that Bovaer has consistently proven to be safe for consumers, farmers, and animals.
Dairy studies have shown that Bovaer has no significant impact on milk production, milk composition, feed intake, milk quality, or animal health. It also has no effect on the rumen microbes that are essential for digestion and is broken down in the digestive system into natural compounds already present in the digestive tract, ensuring no changes in manure composition.
Key Effectiveness Data:
- Methane Reduction:
- In dairy cattle, Bovaer can reduce methane emissions by up to 30%.
- In beef cattle, reductions of up to 45% or more have been observed, depending on the diet composition.
- Rapid Action:
- Bovaer starts working within 30 minutes of being ingested and has a continuous effect as long as it is included in the feed.
- Broad Application:
- Effective across different diets, including those high in forage or concentrates, making it suitable for a wide range of farming systems.
References
- DSM-Firmenich link
- Elanco Announces FDA Has Completed Review of Bovaer® link
- Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition link
- 3-Nitrooxypropanol link
- Long-term effects of 3-nitrooxypropanol on methane emission and milk
production characteristics in Holstein-Friesian dairy cows link
