The manufacturer of Bovaer has said that it is investigating concerns raised by Danish farmers who are using the feed additive in dairy cow diets.

The use of Bovaer is now a legally required climate measure in Denmark since 1 October. Currently, around 1,400 Danish farmers are using the feed supplement, according to manufacturers dsm-firmenich.

Bovaer contains the additive 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) and is scientifically proven to reduce methane emissions from cows. The company told the Irish Farmers Journal that it is aware that some farmers have raised concerns about cow health in recent weeks.

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“We are actively engaging with the relevant organisations to ensure that all these concerns are fully investigated and properly addressed.

“In previously reported cases, Bovaer was not identified as a contributing factor to the health concerns raised,” it said.

It added that Aarhus University has also reaffirmed that its earlier research conducted under controlled conditions, found no evidence of disease in cows using Bovaer.

“These findings align with a large body of evidence from international research and widespread global on-farm adoption, reinforcing Bovaer’s safety and efficacy, over the past 15 years. Bovaer is a proven, effective and safe solution that has been successfully used for over three years by thousands of farmers in over 25 countries.

“It is approved for use in 70 countries, including the United States, the European Union and Switzerland.”

Food safety authorities in these regions, it added, have reviewed Bovaer and confirmed its safety and effectiveness in reducing methane emissions.