A major UK trial testing a feed additive designed to reduce methane emissions from dairy cows has concluded, with Arla Foods reviewing the results before deciding whether to continue using it.
The Bovaer supplement, developed by DSM-Firmenich, was tested on 30 Arla farms across the UK. It works by reducing methane-producing enzymes in cows’ stomachs, and is claimed to reduce emissions by up to 45%.
The product has been touted as a major step towards climate-friendly agriculture, but its rollout has sparked heated debate.
The start of the trial last year sparked a debate over food safety and sparked online protests, including videos of people throwing away milk in protest.
DSM-Firmenich claims Bovaer is “proven, effective and safe” and is used by thousands of farmers in more than 25 countries.
A company spokesperson said the company was aware that “some farmers have expressed concerns about the health of their cows” and was investigating these thoroughly. “Bovar was not identified as a contributing factor in previously reported cases,” they added.
The Food Standards Agency approved Bobber for use in the UK in 2023, concluding that milk from treated cows is safe to drink at approved doses. Methane has a much stronger short-term warming effect than carbon dioxide, making livestock emissions a key climate target.
In October 2023, Defra reaffirmed its commitment to reducing methane emissions from livestock and committed to promoting the use of methane-suppressing feed products in the UK.
However, the NFU said last year that such products must “work in real-world conditions” and be supported alongside other emissions-reducing technologies such as genetics and efficiency improvements.
Paul Tompkins, chairman of the NFU dairy committee, said “questions remain about its long-term effectiveness” and whether the additive could be used “practically and effectively on farms” without impacting animal health and welfare.
He pointed to Defra’s research showing shoppers were generally favorable to methane-suppressing feed “provided it does not impact human or animal health”, but warned that “strong evidence” was needed to give farmers confidence.
“This pilot project between Arla, Morrisons, Aldi and Tesco could help provide this evidence,” Mr Tompkins said, adding: “It is important that supply chains and governments continue to work together to enable informed decisions about greenhouse gas reduction.”
Arla said it is “currently reviewing” the test results before making any future hiring decisions.
