Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast. I'm your host,
Bella. And today we're diving into a hot topic
that's affecting dairy farmers across the country.
We're talking about how innovative producers
are tackling methane reduction while actually
improving their bottom line. And I'm Douglas,
joining Bella today to break down the practical
side of this issue. In today's episode, we'll
explore the FDA's recent approval of Bover, a
feed additive that cuts methane emissions by
30%, along with other strategies like improved
silage management and targeted breeding approaches.
We'll also discuss the economic benefits these
methods can bring to your operation. Curious.
This is such a timely discussion, Douglas. With
climate concerns putting dairy in the spotlight,
farmers are looking for solutions that make both
environmental and economic sense. Let's jump
right in. Let's start by understanding what Bovair
actually is. Approved by the FDA on May 28, 2024,
Bovair is the brand name for 3 -nitroxypropanol,
or 3 -no -P for short. It's a feed additive specifically
designed to reduce methane production in cattle.
How exactly does it work? I know our listeners
will want to understand the science behind it.
It targets an enzyme called methyl coenzyme M
-reductase, or MCR, in rumen archaea. These are
the microorganisms in a cow's digestive system
that produce methane. By inhibiting this enzyme,
Bover effectively reduces the amount of methane
formed during digestion. According to Elanco
Animal Health data, this equals approximately
1 .2 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent
reduced annually per cow. I've heard some consumers
are worried about safety. What's the current
status on that front? The Food Standards Agency
has been very clear on this point. They state,
and I quote, Milk from cows given Bover is safe
to drink. The cows metabolize the additive so
it does not pass into the milk. Bover has been
approved not just by the FDA, but also in Great
Britain, the European Union, Australia, and Canada
after extensive safety evaluations. I've been
seeing some pretty intense reactions on social
media about Bover. Some TikTok users are even
posting videos of themselves pouring milk down
the sink. What's going on there? Unfortunately,
we're seeing what one online commenter called
essentially another anti -vaccine campaign. People
are claiming this feed additive is unsafe for
humans, despite clear scientific evidence to
the contrary. Bover has undergone extensive safety
evaluations and received regulatory approval
for use in dairy cattle. It seems like there's
a disconnect between the science and public perception.
Why do you think that is? One industry commentator
put it well. The term additive has been associated
with negativity for years. When consumers hear
chemicals and cows in the same sentence, they
panic. Even though milk naturally contains thousands
of chemical compounds. What does the research
actually show about Beauvais in milk? According
to extensive testing reviewed by the European
Food Safety Authority, 3 -NOP is not detectable
in a cow's plasma, milk, or other edible tissues.
This is because the animal's stomach rapidly
breaks it down into metabolites, primarily 1
,3 -propanediol, which is mainly exhaled as carbon
dioxide. While Beauvais is getting all the headlines,
I understand there are other approaches farmers
are using to reduce methane. Let's talk about
some of those options. Absolutely. One of my
favorites is what I call the silage strategy.
While not as flashy as feed additives, improving
your silage game can significantly cut emissions.
How does better silage translate to lower methane?
It's all about digestibility. Higher digestibility
forage means less fermentation time in the rumen,
which translates to fewer burps and more milk
per ton of feed. It's about energy efficiency
as much as environmental impact. Every methane
molecule represents lost energy that could have
gone into milk production. What specific silage
improvements make the biggest difference? Practical.
As nutrition specialist Tom Wilson, a Yorkshire
dairy farmer participating in emission reduction
trials, explains, protein content is the whole
ballgame. Young grass with high digestibility
can dramatically reduce methane output, but you've
got to balance the nutrition carefully. Let's
shift gears and talk about breeding. I understand
some farmers are selecting bulls specifically
for methane reduction traits. That's right. Take
Pete Larson, a third -generation Wisconsin dairy
farmer with a 350 -cow operation. He used to
select bulls based solely on milk components
and conformation. Now he's pioneering a different
approach, breeding cows that naturally produce
less methane. What kind of results is he seeing?
Larson reports, After implementing targeted breeding
strategies for four years, our feed costs have
dropped approximately 8 % while maintaining milk
production. The methane reduction is a bonus
positioning us well for future market requirements.
Is there research backing up this breeding approach?
Yes. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania
School of Veterinary Medicine have confirmed
what innovative farmers discovered through trial
and error. Low -emitting cows tend to be smaller
and house different microbial communities, and
these differences were not associated with reduced
milk production. And what does the science say
about why this works? Dr. Dipti Pitta, Associate
Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School
of Veterinary Medicine, explains it well. Low
methane emitters are more efficient cows. Methane
formation is an energy -inefficient process,
so reducing methane production gives that energy
back to the cow for metabolic activities, including
improved growth rate and milk production. These
approaches sound promising, but I imagine there
are challenges to implementing them. What obstacles
are dairy farmers facing? You're right. Despite
the promising potential, there are legitimate
hurdles. Dr. Frank Mitloehner, professor and
air quality extension specialist at UC Davis,
points out that The upfront costs of feed additives
like Bover remain a concern for many producers.
Without processor premiums or carbon market access,
producers must carefully evaluate the return
on investment. What are the main barriers farmers
are encountering? Industry analysts point to
several common challenges. First, initial implementation
costs without immediate financial returns. Second,
integration complexities with existing feeding
systems. Third, market uncertainty around carbon
credit pricing. And fourth, consumer acceptance
of new technologies. Are farmers finding ways
to overcome these barriers? The good news is
that early adopters are finding these barriers
surmountable. Pete Larson shared his approach.
We started with a small test group to minimize
upfront costs. This allowed us to document benefits
before scaling up. The key is starting small
and expanding as you see results. Let's talk
about the role milk processors and cooperatives
are playing in this methane reduction effort.
Cooperatives and processors are quickly becoming
key players in the methane reduction ecosystem.
As Nestle, Danone, and other major dairy buyers
set ambitious carbon reduction targets, they're
developing incentive programs for producers.
What specific programs are available to help
farmers? Dairy Farmers of America, the largest
U .S. dairy cooperative, has launched sustainability
programs to help its 12 ,500 family farm owners
reduce environmental impact while improving profitability.
Jackie Klippenstein, Senior Vice President at
DFA, explains, Our gold standard dairy program
helps producers document their sustainability
efforts and prepare for future market opportunities.
Are these programs creating financial incentives
for farmers? Absolutely. Processors are increasingly
linking sustainability to market access. Land
O 'Lakes' Trutera Sustainability Program connects
farmers with buyers willing to pay premiums for
verified sustainable practices, creating financial
incentives for methane reduction. Let's compare
the different methane reduction strategies available
to farmers. What kind of reduction can each approach
achieve? Here's how they stack up. Bovair can
reduce methane by up to 30 % and will be available
in Q3 2024. It delivers about 1 .2 metric tons
of CO2 equivalent reduction per cow per year.
Young digestible grass can also reduce methane
by up to 30 % with the benefit of improved feed
efficiency and can be implemented immediately
depending on the season. Increasing maize silage
can cut methane by 5 -10 % by your next harvest,
with improved nitrogen efficiency as a bonus.
And methane -focused genetics can reduce emissions
by up to 22 % over the long term while maintaining
production levels. What about the safety of these
approaches? For Bover specifically, no residues
are detected in milk or tissues because the additive
is metabolized by cows. and regulatory agencies
have found no safety concerns when used at approved
doses. So, what about organic dairy producers?
Are there methane reduction strategies that work
within organic certification requirements? Yes,
while synthetic additives like Bovair face consumer
resistance, other interventions are gaining traction
among organic producers looking for natural approaches
to emission reduction. Curious, what kinds of
natural approaches are working? Melissa Chambers,
an Oregon organic dairy owner, sees it as a potential
marketing win. We're reducing our carbon footprint
while improving cow health with management practices
consumers understand. There's less pushback when
the approach seems natural. Let's talk dollars
and cents. What's the economic reality of implementing
methane reduction strategies? The economic reality
is that methane reduction strategies require
investment. farmers have significant support
through USDA programs. For fiscal year 2023,
the department awarded more than $90 million
to dairy farmer -owned cooperatives and partner
organizations for innovative feed management
under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
Beyond government support, are there other financial
benefits? Absolutely. Elanco has developed a
platform that helps producers connect with carbon
markets. providing an opportunity for a diversified
income stream that's not dependent on milk markets.
Some dairy operations sell carbon credits from
documented methane reductions, generating additional
revenue. Others leverage sustainability grants
to modernize feed systems while cutting emissions.
As Pete Larson insists, this isn't charity. Every
methane molecule we eliminate represents energy
that stays in our production system. The climate
benefit is just a bonus. Help our listeners understand
why reducing methane makes business sense beyond
just environmental concerns. Methane is the second
most plentiful and potent greenhouse gas, packing
a punch in the short term. It's 25 times more
potent than carbon dioxide over 100 years. When
cows produce methane through their digestive
process, it's not just an environmental concern.
It represents an energy loss and reduction in
feed efficiency. So reducing methane is actually
about capturing lost energy. Exactly. If we can
keep that energy in the animal instead of losing
it as gas, we see significant efficiency gains.
It's the same reason car manufacturers work to
eliminate wasted fuel as exhaust. For farmers
listening who want to get started with methane
reduction, what steps should they take? First,
assess your current emissions baseline. Connect
with your cooperative or processor about carbon
measurement tools, or consider working with Elanco's
Uplook Sustainability Insights engine. What about
funding options? Explore the USDA Regional Conservation
Partnership Program, with over $90 million available.
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation
Service office for application guidance and explore
processor sustainability incentive programs.
Once they have funding lined up, how do they
choose a strategy? Consider feed additives like
Bovair, available Q3 2024 through Elanco, or
work with genetics providers on methane -efficient
bloodlines. You might also consult with a nutritionist
on silage optimization. The key is choosing what
works best for your specific operation. And how
can farmers monetize their reductions? Look into
carbon credit verification through third parties
like Athean or Trutera and explore potential
premium market access through sustainable milk
programs. We've compiled some common questions
from dairy farmers about methane reduction. Let's
address a few of those now. Great idea. One common
question is whether methane reduction is economically
viable for small and mid -sized dairies. It's
the answer to that. Dr. Frank Mitliner from UC
Davis says, Absolutely. While large operations
may have more resources for implementation, smaller
farms often have greater flexibility to adapt
quickly. The key is choosing the right strategy
for your operation size. Feed management improvements
typically have the fastest ROI for smaller farms,
while genetics provide long -term benefits for
all herd sizes. Another question we hear often
is how soon farmers can expect to see results
from methane reduction efforts. Dr. Dipti Pitta
from the University of Pennsylvania explains,
Feed additives can reduce emissions almost immediately
while breeding approaches take longer, typically
several years to see significant herd -wide changes.
The feed efficiency benefits often appear before
the full climate benefits are realized, which
helps offset implementation costs. Where can
producers go for implementation support? Jackie
Klippenstein from Dairy Farmers of America recommends,
start with your cooperative or processor, as
many have sustainability teams dedicated to helping
members. The Innovation Center for U .S. Dairy
offers excellent resources, and your local extension
office can connect you with regional experts.
We've covered a lot of ground today. From bovair
to breeding, silage management to carbon markets,
it's clear that dairy farmers have multiple pathways
to reduce methane while improving profitability.
The key takeaways are that multiple reduction
strategies exist, giving farmers flexibility
based on their operation size and management
style. Economic returns come through improved
feed efficiency, access to premium markets, and
carbon credit opportunities. Starting small and
documenting results is a proven approach, and
early adopters will have a competitive edge as
regulations evolve. The battle for dairy's climate
future won't be won by government edicts or activist
pressure. It will be decided by farmers who recognize
that emission reduction isn't just an environmental
imperative, it's a competitive advantage. As
National Milk Producers Federation CEO Greg Dowd
notes, Innovations like Bovair will help U .S.
dairy farmers remain globally competitive and
maintain their role as leaders in more sustainable
dairy production. Whether through breeding, feeding,
or advanced additives, tomorrow's dairy leaders
will cut gas while pumping up profits today.
The climate critics don't want you to know the
truth. Dairy farmers aren't the problem. They're
pioneering the solution. One burp -free cow at
a time. That's all for today's episode of the
Bullvine Podcast. If you found this information
valuable, please share it with your fellow dairy
farmers. And don't forget to subscribe wherever
you get your podcasts. Until next time, I'm Bella.
And I'm Douglas, wishing you efficient herds
and profitable production.