Bovaer®, manufactured and supplied by DSM Nutritional Products, is the first ever EU approved feed additive with environmental impact, and now available in over 40 markets globally including Australia.
Bovaer® is a feed additive that reduces enteric methane emissions, contributing to a significant and immediate reduction of the environmental footprint of meat and dairy products; lowering enteric methane emissions in feedlots by 50-90% within 30 minutes after feeding. Bovaer® is thereby arguably one of the fastest ways to combat global warming and gives the Australia beef sector an easy way to make a contribution. The benefits are also strongly aligned with the sector’s CN30 ambition.
DSM has entered this innovation into the ALFA Award for Innovation 2022, proudly supported by Integrated Animal Production. The winner will be announced at the ALFA BeefEx22 Conference in October. Read on to find out more about how this innovation within the feedlot industry.
Tell us, how is the innovation original/innovative?
Bovaer® is a feed additive for ruminants, researched and developed over 10 years by DSM, and tested in over 50 trials globally including a number of studies in Australia. Just a quarter teaspoon of Bovaer® per cow per day suppresses the enzyme that triggers methane production in a cow’s rumen and consistently reduces enteric methane emission by 50% to 90% for finishing beef cattle. It takes effect immediately. As soon as the additive is not fed anymore, full methane production resumes and there are no lasting effects in the cow. The feed additive Bovaer® therefore contributes to a significant and immediate reduction of the environmental footprint of beef and products.
No negative impact on animal welfare, feed consumption or performance has been identified. After blocking methane production in the stomach, Bovaer® is broken down into natural compounds and eliminated by the cow’s normal digestive processes and consistently reduces their methane emissions.
So, how does it benefit the Australian Lot Feeding Industry?
Bovaer® is a game changing technology which allows the beef feedlot industry to contribute to the CN30 targets of the industry. In 2021, a study in collaboration with MLA conducted at UNE demonstrated a 90% reduction in methane emissions from feed lot steers fed Bovaer®.
Overall, reductions of enteric methane emissions by 50-90% are possible across the Australian feedlot section. With this it’s arguably the single largest lever which can be implemented today across the sector. The product furthermore is an important lever to support beef companies to produce, brand and sell premium carbon neutral beef value propositions.
And how does it integrate into Australian Lot Feeding operations?
The initial form is a fine powder, called Bovaer® 10 which can be diluted into into a number of different feed commodity stocks and be added directly at the feedlot, and thereby easy the implement. The benefit starts within 30 minutes, and with that it’s arguably one of the fastest ways to reduce enteric emissions or even greenhouse gasses at large No changes in management practices are required.
For More Information Contact:
Pietro Celi, - DSM 0467200016 | pietro.celi@dsm.com
About the ALFA Award for Innovation
All BeefEx exhibitors & sponsors with an innovative product or service are encouraged to enter the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association’s (ALFA) Innovation Award – designed to acknowledge excellence in innovation from companies supplying and servicing the lot feeding sector.
With thanks to our sponsor, Integrated Animal Production Pty Ltd for their support of this Award.
