Danish Farmers Blame Bovaer For Collapsing Cows

On October 31st, the Danish TV2 news programme reported:

Cows are collapsing, farmers say – and they suspect a mandatory feed additive Several dairy cows are failing to thrive and producing less milk. In some cases, they collapse

An controversial additive called Bovaer, which must be mixed into the cows’ feed, is suspected of causing the problems.

This is reported by several farmers, writes Jyllands-Posten on Friday.

Since 1 October, farmers have started mixing the mandatory additive into the cows’ feed.

The aim is to reduce the cows’ emissions of the greenhouse gas methane, and Bovaer has previously been thoroughly tested over several years. Yet something appears to have gone wrong during the roll-out.

“We have so many people calling us, unhappy about what is happening in their herds,” Kjartan Poulsen, chairman of the Danish Dairy Farmers’ Association, tells TV 2. The organisation has now launched an investigation into the matter, he says.

Rated safe by the EU The substance Bovaer is produced by the Dutch company DSM and was approved by the European Commission in 2022 for use in cattle feed. The approval is based on studies by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which concluded that Bovaer poses no risk to the health of dairy or breeding cows, to consumer safety or to the environment.

In several cases, farmers have tried removing the substance from the cows’ feed and have seen the animals recover, writes Jyllands-Posten. When they later re-introduced it, the problems returned.

Kjartan Poulsen finds it “strange” and asks farmers to report whenever cows fail to thrive under suspicion of Bovaer.

“We have to acknowledge that some are feeding it without problems, so we need to find out what is really happening,” the chairman adds.

Problems return upon re-introduction. The cows’ poor condition has led to lower milk yields. Some of the collapsed animals have been treated and survived, while others have had to be put down.

What is the dairy producers’ pain threshold for how many animals must suffer from feed containing Bovaer? “Zero. That’s not the idea at all. This is supposed to deliver a climate benefit – and if cows die from it or produce less milk, the effect is negative,” says Kjartan Poulsen.

According to the chairman, the next step is to have farmers sign a solemn declaration that they will stop using Bovaer if their animals fall ill – in line with current animal-welfare rules.

At the same time, Kjartan Poulsen urges Agriculture Minister Jacob Jensen (Venstre) to call a “time-out” so the industry can get to the bottom of the issue.

Journalistic principles TV 2 publishes news in accordance with journalistic principles of ethics and balance. This means, among other things, that we fact-check, interview sources and always try to let all parties have their say.

You can read our ethical guidelines here. TV 2 is also a member of the Danish Press Council and follows the press-ethical rules.

Agency is monitoring the case In a written reply to TV 2, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration states that it is aware that some farmers have reported challenges in their herds after using Bovaer.

In this connection, the agency has asked Aarhus University to collect real-world data on feeding with Bovaer.

“That way we can clarify whether there is a link between the reported challenges and feeding with Bovaer,” the written reply states.

The Administration further states that it expects to be briefed on the preliminary results of Aarhus University’s work “as soon as possible” after the 2025-26 New Year.