Methane from livestock is part of the biogenic carbon cycle, a natural process that recycles carbon between the atmosphere, plants, and animals.
Plants absorb the life-essential gas carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, converting it into carbohydrates like cellulose. Cattle and other ruminants consume these plants, digesting the cellulose through fermentation within their digestive tracts. Cattle burp methane (or release it as flatulence), releasing the carbon back into the atmosphere.
After about 12 years, this methane breaks down and converts back to CO2. Plants then reabsorb this CO2, restarting the cycle.
This cycle has worked well for many millions of years. However, eco-activists have begun targeting dairy farms and cattle ranches by asserting that methane, like C02, is a dangerous greenhouse gas that causes climate catastrophes.
This has led to a number of companies developing new cattle feeds to reduce bovine emissions. One of them is Bovaer, which was developed by Elanco Animal Health. The feed ingredient powder claims to reduce methane emissions from dairy cattle by almost 30% and works by suppressing a cow’s ability to produce methane during digestion.
Now it is being reported that Arla Foods is facing calls for a boycott of its products in the United Kingdom, including fresh milk, after announcing a new project to trial this feed additive on its farms.
The company, which owns the UK’s largest dairy cooperative, revealed on November 26 that it is partnering with major British retailers such as Morrisons, Aldi, and Tesco to trial Bovaer, a methane-reducing product. While Arla claims the initiative will help British farmers transition to more sustainable practices, the trial has sparked significant backlash from environmental and health advocates.Bovaer is designed to reduce enteric methane emissions from cows by 27% on average. It works by suppressing an enzyme in the cow’s stomach that produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. However, critics argue that the long-term effects of the additive on animal health and the environment are unknown.
Investigating the specific safety issues related to 3-NOP, the Italian Journal of Animal Science offered this assessment:
Despite the promising effects of 3-NOP, further studies are required to assess carry-over of the compound into animal products and food safety concern when the products are consumed by human.
After the abuse of science by “experts” to push the covid vaccines, people are unwilling to accept being the guinea pigs when new substances are introduced into their food supplies or bodies.
But the news gets better. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed its review of Bovaer in May 2024, determining that the product meets safety and efficacy requirements for use in lactating dairy cows. And it accelerated the process to do so.
And carbon credits were the bribe.
FDA approval of Bovaer comes months after the agency announced steps to accelerate the process to bring animal feed additives to market, overhauling a regulatory system that startups say was mired down by long, multiyear delays.Elanco says it researched and developed Bovaer for more than 10 years, and the product is already available in more than 55 countries including the European Union. Canada moved to approve the product earlier this year.Dairy farmers who use Elanco’s supplements can also earn additional revenue through a partnership with Athian, which operates a marketplace for dairy farmers to sell carbon credits. Farms can use Elanco’s digital tool UpLook to quantify emissions reductions and then easily certify carbon credits on Athian’s platform.
Bovaer is only one supplement being tried.
Asparagopsis taxiformis is a red seaweed has been found to reduce methane yield by up to 55% in dairy cattle and up to 98% in beef cattle. It contains bromoform, a natural methane inhibitor…but one with its own set of long-term health effects.
More natural supplements include a blend of plant extracts, including wild carrot and coriander seed oil, which has been shown to reduce methane intensity by 11% in dairy cows. A proprietary mix of garlic and citrus extracts can result in methane reductions of up to 38% when fed consistently.
However, the market for such feeds assumes that there is a problem. Again, there is no “climate crisis” other than the one induced by pseudoscience and the narrative-pushers. There is no need for farmers or ranchers to buy a pharma product to fix the very successful biogenic cycle.
And good luck getting the cow-owners in India to back this insanity.
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