Denmark’s farmers have recently been reporting that their cows are collapsing and suffering illness after eating feed containing a methane-reducing additive called Bovaer.
Use of this feed is now legally required for many farms in Denmark as part of its national climate policy. Some farmers claim their cattle experienced severe symptoms after eating the additive-infused feed, including collapse, lethargy, reduced feed intake, fever, diarrhea, miscarriages, and significant drops in milk production.
Based on these complaints, another Scandinavian country poised to implement the same policy is halting the move.
In Norway, the government had mandated the use of Bovaer as an additive in all dairy cows starting in 2027 as part of its climate action plan. However, the Norwegian state-subsidised milk cooperative, Tine – which has a monopoly on the nation’s dairy industry – has now put the use of Bovaer on hold until they have carried out an investigation.
Norsk Melkeråvare is the largest milk supplier in Norway, operating as the leading dairy cooperative managing the sourcing and distribution of milk from Norwegian farmers. The company has temporarily suspended the use of the methane-reducing feed.
Bovaer use has been paused in Norway after reports from Denmark of cows collapsing and reduced milk yields. On 12 November 2025, milk supplier Norsk Melkeråvare said it would suspend the methane‑reducing feed additive on Norwegian dairy farms as a precaution while awaiting more information on alleged adverse effects observed in some Danish herds.Norsk Melkeråvare has halted Bovaer “until further notice” under the precautionary principle. The company says there are no documented negative effects linked to the additive in Norway, but the pause aims to secure clarity before broader roll‑out. Officials and industry partners will reassess once new data from Denmark and ongoing Norwegian trials are reviewed.
Danish farmers are backing away from using Bovaer despite the government mandate. Those who have stopped using the additive-infused feed have noticed an improvement in their animals.
Reports from approximately 1,400 farmers who began using the additive on October 1st indicate issues such as fevers, diarrhea, and fertility problems, with some cases resulting in cow deaths. The additive, produced by dsm-firmenich, is intended to reduce methane emissions by up to 30% through its active ingredient, 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP).The Danish government’s mandate requires farms with over 50 cows to use Bovaer for at least 80 days annually, imposing fines for non-compliance. However, many farmers report adverse effects, prompting a call to suspend the mandate. Anders Ring, a farmer in Southern Denmark, observed a spike in digital dermatitis and high somatic-cell counts after using the additive, leading to a halt in its use to protect his herd.Ring noted that after discontinuing Bovaer, his herd’s somatic-cell counts dropped by 20% within two days, though milk production losses were reported at up to 5 kg per cow per day. Farmers like Ring are urging the government to pause the mandate until the health issues are fully investigated.
Meanwhile, Arla Foods, owner of the largest dairy co-operative in the United Kingdom, has halted its trial use of the additive and is now reviewing test results from 30 farms before deciding on future use.
The launch of the Bovaer supplement trial last year saw concerns raised over food safety, as well as misinformation and conspiracy theories posted online, with videos on social media showing people flushing milk down the toilet in protest.Bovaer is now the focus of an investigation in Denmark after farmers raised fresh concerns but manufacturer DSM-Firmenich said the additive was “proven, effective and safe”.
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