Danish cattle sector struggles as cows die after mandatory Bovaer feed

The Danish cattle and dairy sector is facing significant challenges as thousands of cows are reportedly dying each year following a government mandate requiring farmers to feed their cattle Bovaer, an enzyme inhibitor designed to reduce methane emissions from cattle. This policy was implemented as part of Denmark"s efforts to combat climate change.

Farmers have reported that their cows have developed health problems while on the Bovaer diet, and these issues resolved when the cows were returned to a normal diet. Additionally, farmers noted a decrease in milk production among their cattle while they were being fed Bovaer.

Bovaer was developed in 2011 by the Dutch company Royal Dutch State Mines (DSM) N.V., which has since merged with a Swiss company to become DSM-Firmenich. Major stakeholders in DSM-Firmenich include investment firms such as BlackRock, Vanguard Capital, and Goldman Sachs.

Despite the health issues observed, Danish farmers are unable to discontinue the use of Bovaer due to government regulations that mandate its use in cattle feed.

For further context on climate-related policies, see recent developments in climate change initiatives.