Danish Dairy Crisis: Bovaer Feed Additive Sparks Outrage
Farmers Forum staff
Denmark’s dairy industry has erupted in anger as farmers accuse the government-mandated feed additive Bovaer of poisoning livestock in a bid to curb methane emissions.
Since October 1, farms with over 50 cows have been required to dose rations with the chemical 3-nitrooxypropanol, developed by DSM-Firmenich. If the farms don’t comply they face heavy fines.
Horrifying reports flood in: cows collapsing, miscarrying, suffering fevers, diarrhea, and plummeting milk yields—some euthanized after agonizing weeks.
“It’s slow poisoning masked as sustainability,” lamented one producer.
Key whistleblowers include farmers featured in citizen journalist Kent Nielsen’s viral video. Henrik Jensen, a Jutland dairyman, removed Bovaer from his 120-cow herd amid rampant illnesses; within days, the animals recovered vigor and output. Upon reintroduction to comply with fines, symptoms returned ferociously, forcing another halt.
Similarly, Søren Larsen in Funen withdrew the additive after losing two cows to neurological distress. Recovery was swift, but re-dosing triggered worse inflammation. “Our herds are experiments now,” Larsen said.
National Association of Danish Milk Producers chairman Kjartan Poulsen has demanded a “timeout” and an investigation citing over 200 complaints.
A national veterinarian body is also investigating as critics decry that climate zealotry is endangering food security, animal health and farmers’ livelihoods.
