Seek support to get the most from new methane inhibitor

What impact will feeding the new Bovaer® feed additive have on my herd’s enteric methane production, and how can I tweak the diet to lower overall greenhouse gas emissions?

If you’re looking for answers, then the Mole Valley Feed Solutions team are uniquely placed to help. 

For the last four years, we’ve been able to predict how much enteric methane-specific diets will generate using our Precision Nutrition rationing program. We can also assess the ration’s overall carbon footprint. It means we can make targeted ration changes to lower the carbon footprint of an individual farm’s diet. 

This fits within our Climate Positive Agriculture Initiative which is designed to help producers better understand and reduce their impact on the environment. 

Mole Valley Feed Solutions’ Head of Nutrition, Dr Chris Bartram says it’s ultimately about supporting farmers to optimise productivity, profitability and sustainability.

“That’s one of the reasons we’re excited that Bovaer® has been approved for feeding in the UK and EU,” he says. “Over 60 trials in dairy and beef cows, in more than 20 countries have shown that its inclusion can reduce methane emissions by about 30%.”

Pressure on agriculture to reduce emissions has gained pace recently, following the Government’s pledge at COP28 to lower methane emissions. Defra itself recognises the role of methane-suppressing feed additives in helping to reduce livestock emissions and meet its 2050 net zero target.

As a farmer-owned business, we have been looking at practical ways to lower farm methane emissions for some time. This has included a trial at Harper Adams University which found that feeding rations based on maize silage and starch reduced dairy methane emissions by about 7%, compared to grass silage and higher fibre diets.

We are also in the process of running a study with Duchy College - one of our Focus Farms - to assess the impact of halving the carbon footprint of dairy diets on milk constituents and finances. The aim is to deliver a 5% reduction in methane production, a 17% increase in protein efficiency and a 50% theoretical reduction in dietary carbon footprint.

Moving forward, Bovaer®, which is produced by dsm-firmenich, will play a significant role in the methane reduction story. It works by targeting the rumen microorganisms responsible for the production of methane. It is completely broken down in the cow and is not found in milk, meat, urine or manure. When fed at the recommended dose, it also has no impact on dry matter intakes, cow health or production. As a result, the European Food Standards Agency (EFSA) and UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) have approved it for commercial use.

The feed additive can be incorporated into dairy minerals or concentrate blends for mixing into TMR (Total Mixed Rations) and partial TMRs. We can advise on how best to deliver Bovaer® to your herd, at the optimum inclusion rate and use our Precision Nutrition Rationing program and Bovaer® equation to predict how its inclusion will lower methane emissions.

The fact we are the only company in the UK to have blend, compound and mineral manufacturing facilities in-house means we can deliver a bespoke, cost-effective, efficient service.

If you require more information and advice on how Bovaer® can fit in your herd’s rations, please contact the Mole Valley Feed Solutions Team on 01566 780261 or [email protected]