Arla completes trials of methane-reducing feed additives
11th November 2025
Arla Foods has confirmed that its UK projects on methane-reducing feed additives have been completed, and the findings are now under review.
In November 2024, Arla Foods announced the launch of a new collective project with Morrisons, Tesco and Aldi to trial the use of a feed additive to tackle methane emissions.
The project has seen a collective effort across the food industry to trial the use of Bovaer, a feed additive that reduces enteric methane emissions from cows on average by 27%.
The scheme also involved around 30 of Arla’s farmer owners and aimed to provide a better understanding of how these feed additives can be rolled out across a larger group of farmers.
Back in 2024, Paul Dover, UK agricultural director at Arla Foods, told Farmers Guide: “We know that reducing methane is a big opportunity when it comes to improving our carbon footprint at farm level, and feed additives like Bovaer have huge potential in helping us tackle this issue.
“We are extremely excited about this new collective way of working alongside our retail partners and the possibilities that feed additives, such as this one, present.
“However, rolling them out at scale will not be easy due to the cost involved, so it’s important we understand more about their usage potential and then work together with the industry, government and our partners to support farmers if we want to harness the opportunity they present in driving down emissions.”
READ MORE: Arla, Morrisons, Tesco and Aldi announce trial of methane-reducing feed additives
READ MORE: Arla issues statement following backlash over Bovaer trial
Situation in Denmark
NFU dairy board chair Paul Tompkins commented on the news that the trials have been completed.
He said: “The NFU has been very clear that any new product or innovation needs to work in real-life situations, suit a range of farm systems, and that animal welfare must continue to be our highest priority.”
DSM-Firmenich, the manufacturer of the methane-reducing feed additive Bovaer, has recently responded to allegations from Danish farmers that the product is linked to recent cattle illnesses and deaths.
Since October, many Danish dairy farmers have added Bovaer to their cattle feed following new legislation requiring them to either use Bovaer for at least 80 days each year, or add extra fat to their feed year-round.
According to Landbrug & Fødevarer (L&F) – the Danish Agriculture & Food Council – cattle have shown signs of fever, reduced milk production, and lethargy. In some cases, farmers have also reported bloating.
At the same time, the L&F emphasises that many farms have not experienced any problems with the use of Bovaer.
Mr Tompkins added: “Following reports of investigations in Denmark into the use of methane suppressants, we will continue to monitor the situation for any developments to ensure the impact of any product is known and we continue to apply informed, science-based decision-making when it comes to the use of GHG emissions-reducing techniques.”
READ MORE: Bovaer manufacturer responds to reports of cattle illnesses and deaths
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