Arla has suspended its UK trial of the feed additive Bovaer after Danish farmers reported health complications in cattle given the product. [emphasis, links added]
The company has not announced whether the program will resume, and producers say they were notified that the pilot is being halted pending further review.
The decision comes after Danish farms documented cases of milk fever, diarrhea, udder problems, fertility issues, and reports of cows collapsing. Farmers said the symptoms resolved once Bovaer was removed.
Danish regulators have requested additional information but have not published final findings.
Bovaer was introduced as part of efforts to reduce methane emissions from livestock under Net Zero policy targets.
The additive, developed to suppress methane production in ruminants, has been promoted by government-aligned climate groups and featured in multiple agriculture decarbonization proposals, reports David Turver on Substack.
The UK Climate Change Committee has recommended a 35 percent reduction in meat consumption and a 38 percent cut to cattle and sheep numbers by 2050.
These targets were issued despite methane emissions from UK livestock already falling significantly from 1990 levels.
Questions about Bovaer’s performance have also emerged. Industry data indicate the additive may reduce methane emissions by roughly one-third, but farmers involved in early trials reported that milk output declined at a similar rate.
If confirmed, farms would need more animals to maintain production, limiting the overall emissions benefit and raising concerns about the product’s practical value.
Separate safety documentation warns that Bovaer can cause “serious eye damage,” skin irritation, and is suspected of affecting fertility.
Critics argue that the risks were not adequately evaluated before the product was advanced into commercial trials.
Top photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash
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