Bovaer manufacturer responds to reports of 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.

When approached by Farmers Guide, Ida Storm, director of the Danish Agriculture & Food Council Cattle, confirmed that the council is familiar with some cases of dairy farmers reporting problems after starting to use Bovaer.  

“This is obviously of great concern to us. Animal welfare must not be compromised. At the same time, we are surprised, since no research or large-scale trials have indicated problems,” she added. 

To gather more information, DAFC Cattle has launched an online survey for dairy farmers to report any problems. 

Manufacturer’s response

A spokesperson for Bovaer manufacturer DSM-Firmenich said: “Currently, around 1,400 Danish farmers are using the Bovaer feed supplement, and we are aware that in recent days, some farmers have raised concerns about cow health.  

“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.” 

DSM-Firmenich said that farmers who are experiencing issues should report them to SEGES Innovation. 

“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 have thoroughly reviewed Bovaer and confirmed its safety and effectiveness in reducing methane emissions,” the DSM-Firmenich spokesperson concluded. 

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