Methane-suppressing feed additive approved for use in UK
© Tim Scrivener A feed additive that reduces methane emissions from cattle, with company claims of average reductions in dairy cows of 30%, has been approved for use in the UK.
Dutch-Swiss human and animal nutrition group DSM-Firmenich has announced it has received regulatory approval for its methane-reducing feed additive, Bovaer.
This is the first authorisation in the UK for a feed additive aimed at cutting methane emissions in cows.
See also: Defra commits to methane suppressants to cut emissions
Dairy farmers in England, Scotland and Wales will be able to use Bovaer from early 2024 to lower their carbon footprint.
But the NFU is urging all dairy farmers to adopt a cautious approach before making any decision to use the product.
DSM-Firmenich estimates that widespread adoption of Bovaer in the UK dairy sector can reduce scope-3 emissions by 10-15% equivalents per litre of milk. In addition, it will help the UK lower in delivering on the commitments of the Global Methane Pledge and the Climate Change Act.
Construction of a new large-scale production plant in Dalry, Scotland, is under way and the site is due to become operational sometime in 2025.
NFU caution
Responding to the announcement, NFU Dairy board chairman Michael Oakes said: “While we welcome more products that will potentially reduce methane emissions in cows, we need to make sure they are backed up by independent research that shows they actually work.
“If the dairy supply chain is insistent that we use feed additives, that cost has to go somewhere. We have seen a few milk prices go up a bit, but dairy farmers are struggling.”
Defra is considering the findings of a UK-wide consultation on feed additives last summer, with a view to establishing a mature market to encourage the uptake of products with methane-inhibiting properties, which are expected to be widely available from 2025.
A decision has yet to be made over whether feed additives should be made mandatory in cattle systems.