America’s Dairy Cows Could Soon Have a Less Toxic Effect on the Climate
Farmers will be able to add Bovaer—a methane-reducing ingredient—to dairy cows’ feed, potentially reducing emissions by 30%.
Jun 26, 2024 3:30 PM ET
![Image courtesy of Fast Company colored image of a cow](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/Elanco%20-%20Fast%20Company%20FMR.jpeg)
Originally published by Fast Company
In May, the Food and Drug Administration said Bovaer met safety and efficacy requirements for use in dairy cows. The feed additive, distributed by Indiana-based Elanco Animal Health, has been shown to cut a dairy cow’s methane emissions by an average of 30%. It works by suppressing the gut enzyme that produces the gas, and has no adverse health effects for the cows—or for the humans who consume their milk, according to numerous studies.