Farmers claim net zero feed is killing their cows
Fresh claims emerge of food additive making animals sick as Arla concludes trial of the product
Farmers have claimed that a net zero feed championed by Tesco and Morrisons is poisoning their cattle.
Dozens of farmers using a food additive called Bovaer have reported issues with their cows including fever, stomach cramps, lower milk production and even death.
The issues have emerged in Denmark, where the climate-friendly feed is being trialled at scale. One Danish dairy farmer claimed in an interview that an animal became ill and died while it was dosed with Bovaer.
The news comes just as Arla, the largest dairy producer in the UK, concludes a trial of the product in Britain. The Food Standards Agency is understood to be aware of the reports and is monitoring the situation.
Bovaer has been held up as a potential solution for the vast amount of emissions generated by cow farts. Methane produced during digestion is released into the atmosphere and contributes to global warming. Bovaer inhibits its production during the digestion process.
The UK Food Standards Agency and its EU equivalent have both approved it as safe for consumers and livestock. Last year, Tesco, Aldi and Morrisons celebrated it as “a great way of testing out where we can drive change at scale to bring down emissions”.
However, Anders Ring, a dairy farmer in southern Denmark, said: “In my opinion, Bovaer is a poison. I’ve heard on some farms that cows have collapsed. Some have bacteria problems in the milk and others are experiencing a loss in milk production.”
Mr Ring’s cattle suffered foot infections and reduced milk production. He decided to discontinue use of the additive after just a month under a trial also organised by Arla.
The Danish Dairy Farmers’ Association said it has been in contact with 40 farmers who claimed to have had problems with Bovaer.
A spokesman for the Danish Agriculture and Food Council for Cattle said: “We are familiar with some cases where dairy farmers report problems after starting using Bovaer. This is obviously of great concern to us.”
Further investigation needed
Food Standards Agency officials in Britain are thought to be aware of the situation in Denmark and are assessing the implications for farmers in the UK.
The product works by changing the way cows digest grass in their rumen, the largest of a cow’s four stomach compartments.
James Runciman, a cattle farmer in Norfolk, said: “You simply cannot play with the ecosystem of a rumen. It’s far too complex for humans to manage. Farmers have to wear protective equipment to handle Bovaer and are reporting health issues.”
Bovaer has proved a source of controversy since its introduction. Last year, campaigners called for a boycott of Arla milk in protest over the use of the additive. They claimed it contained substances that were harmful to humans, something Arla and the Food Standards Agency said was completely false.
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