By Kari Bundy | Health Activist
Danish Dairy Farmers Sound Alarm: Bovaer Linked to Sudden Cow Collapses and Deaths
Just one month after Denmark’s October 1, 2025 mandate requiring dairy farms with over 50 cows to incorporate Bovaer 10 into feed rations, a wave of severe health crises has swept through herds nationwide.
The additive—developed by DSM and containing the active compound 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP)—was introduced to reduce methane emissions by up to 30% in line with national climate goals.
Yet, instead of progress, farmers are witnessing what many now call a welfare disaster.
Across the country, cows are collapsing without warning, their legs giving way mid-movement.
Others stand listless, refusing feed, with milk production plunging 20–40% in affected groups.
In the most tragic cases, animals develop high fevers (up to 40°C), severe diarrhea, inflamed udders (mastitis), and irreversible organ stress—leading to euthanasia.
“These are not isolated incidents,” says LDM Chairman Kjartan Poulsen. “The pattern is undeniable: remove Bovaer, and the cows recover within days. Reintroduce it, and the symptoms return immediately—sometimes worse.”
The Danish Dairy Farmers’ Association (LDM) has documented dozens of such cases, with farmers describing scenes of profound animal suffering.
One producer reported losing three cows in a single week, each showing signs of neurological distress and systemic inflammation before being put down.
“We’re not anti-climate,” he said. “But this feels like slow poisoning under the banner of sustainability.”
Bovaer works by inhibiting the enzyme methyl-coenzyme M reductase in the rumen, disrupting methane-producing archaea.
While EFSA approved it in 2022 as safe at 60 mg/kg dry matter—citing low absorption and no acute risks—real-world use reveals a darker side.
The compound metabolizes into 3-nitrooxypropionic acid (NOPA), a known microbial disruptor.
High-dose rodent trials (300 mg/kg body weight) showed benign intestinal tumors after two years, and safety data warns of eye corrosion, skin irritation, and respiratory harm during handling.
Critics argue the mandate—supported by 518 million DKK ($74M) in government subsidies—prioritizes carbon accounting over animal biology.
Aarhus University is now urgently analyzing farm data, with preliminary findings due after January 2026.
Until then, the LDM is pressing Agriculture Minister Jacob Jensen for a full suspension and legal exemptions on welfare grounds.
This crisis lays bare a critical flaw in rushed climate interventions: lab safety does not guarantee farm resilience.
Danish agriculture has long led in sustainability—but not at the expense of sentient lives.
As one farmer put it: “We can’t save the planet by destroying its creatures.”
Full investigative report:
https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2025-10-31-koeer-kollapser-siger-landmaend-og-mistaenker-lovpligtigt-foderstof
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BdjTN1sWa/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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