BOVAER®: REDUCING METHANE EMISSIONS IN LIVESTOCK FARMING
Livestock farming is vital to the global food chain – but like all productive activities, it emits greenhouse gases. Approximately 501 Tbp of emissions from meat and milk come from enteric methane (FMA), naturally produced by ruminants during digestion. dsm-firmenich developed the nutritional additive Bovaer® to reduce the formation of this gas by animals.
Approximately 50% of emissions from meat and milk come from enteric methane.
Methodology
In the rumen of animals, microorganisms produce methane during the digestive process. DSM-Firmenich studied this process and developed Bovaer®, which temporarily inactivates an enzyme that catalyzes methane formation. With 1/4 teaspoon added to the animals' diet daily and an effect within 30 minutes, Bovaer® is able to reduce enteric methane emissions by approximately 30 to 451 TbP. The compound is metabolized into substances already present in the rumen, such as water and nitric oxide, generating no waste and maintaining animal welfare. The solution is the result of 15 years of research and is already available globally.
15 years of research for global innovation in sustainable animal nutrition.
Results
Bovaer® reduces methane emissions by approximately 30% for dairy cattle and 45% for beef cattle. Thus, 1 dairy cow saves the emission of about 1 ton of CO2e per year; and 1 beef cattle reduces 0.5 ton of CO2e. Globally, Bovaer® has already reduced 300,000 tons of CO2e in more than 20 countries – equivalent to 38,000 homes in one year. With over 100 scientific publications, emission reductions are predictable through meta-analysis, recognized by international tools and carbon certification bodies. The ease of implementation on farms makes the model scalable for rapid and reliable methane reductions.
Global reduction of 300,000 tons of CO2e in more than 20 countries.
Bovaer – The new frontier of more sustainable agribusiness