An opinion piece by John McKay, Director and Agricultural Scientist, ECTOL.
The use of Bovaer, a cattle feed additive, to counteract the natural enzyme found in rumen’s stomachs, responsible for production of methane, is very controversial. And the media reports that beef currently being sold to Coles supermarkets has been treated with Bovaer.
Methane is classified as a 'greenhouse gas' and is a biproduct of anaerobic fermentation, as found in the cattle’s rumen. One of the significant sources of free atmospheric methane is from cattle digestion, whereas most global methane is held in swamps, bogs, and natural gas seams.
The supermarkets are motivated to claim a greenhouse gas 'footprint' reduction, which is associated with significant financial, political, and marketing benefits.
The bad press around farming and the impact of global warming is simplistic and the soft target always get the blame. Where in fact, methane production in ruminant farming is a 'closed system' as the methane recycles to hydrogen and carbon dioxide within 10 years.
Further account needs to be taken of the efficiency of pasture farming as a bio-accumulator of carbon in the plant and the soil, a significant amount of which is converted into protein by the same ruminants.
Bovaer is a registered brand name of DSM-Firmenich AG, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland, with the active ingredient, 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), which is a totally synthetic compound.
Whilst many trials have been conducted as to the performance of 3-NOP, successfully reducing methane production in the rumen, I was unable to find data on the long-term impact of such changes to rumen biology and animal health, and what are the breakdown molecules of 3-NOP and what, if any effect, they may have on animal and human health.
Nitrogenous compounds are notoriously problematic and tend to be heavily regulated, such as Nitrates in the aquifer and carcinogenic impacts.
It begs the question, should an already sick population be exposed to another artificial chemical, whose benefits are principally financial?
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