Bovaer by DSM-Firmenich: status and timeline

Bovaer

A feed additive (3-NOP) that cuts cattle methane 30% in dairy herds, up to 45% in beef cattle. Breaks down in the rumen with no milk or meat residue.

ScalingStage 5 of 5

Deployed in 75+ countries, fed to 500,000+ cows; dairy methane -30%, beef -45%.

Updated 4 Nov 2024Checked 10 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Deployment in 75+ countries

First commercial use in Brazil and ChileSep 2021Complete.
EU approval for dairy cattleFeb 2022Complete.
Canadian approvalJan 2024Complete.
US FDA approvalMay 2024Complete.
500,000 cows fed daily milestone reachedQ1 2026Complete.
Deployment in 75+ countriesTarget 2026Current milestone.

Most important updates

Japan approves Bovaer for dairy and beef cattle4 Nov 2024
FDA approves Bovaer for use in US dairy cattle28 May 2024
Canada approves Bovaer for dairy and beef cattle30 Jan 2024
EU approves Bovaer as first environmental feed additive for methane reductionFeb 2022
Bovaer receives first regulatory approvals in Brazil and ChileSep 2021

Upcoming

2026Deployment in 75+ countries (next)
2027Expansion to beef cattle operations in North America

Current obstacles

Cost versus carbon credit returnsProducers must weigh the feed additive cost against potential carbon credit income; profit margins are narrow in competitive dairy.

Physics limits

Methane is one of multiple farm emissionsCattle produce methane and nitrous oxide; reducing methane alone does not reduce other farm emissions, so absolute environmental impact may be less than methane percentages suggest.
Enzyme inhibition reaches a plateauThe enzyme is present throughout the rumen; no chemical can stop all methane synthesis, so the 45% ceiling reflects the practical limit of 3-NOP inhibition.

How it works

3 parts

Chemistry

Inhibits the methane enzyme

3-NOP inhibits methyl-coenzyme M reductase, the enzyme that creates methane from feed in the cow's rumen.

Breakdown

Breaks into natural compounds

The additive is rapidly degraded in the rumen into naturally-occurring compounds; no residue enters milk or meat.

Climate impact

Reduces dairy carbon footprint

Methane reduction of 30% typically cuts the carbon footprint of milk by 10–15%, depending on farm practices.

Spec sheet

Spec	Bovaer
Methane reduction (dairy cattle)	30% average^R (reported)
Methane reduction (beef cattle)	Up to 45%^R (reported)
Milk carbon footprint reduction	10–15%^R (reported)
Cows fed daily (2026)	500,000+^R (reported)
Countries with commercial availability	75+^R (reported)
On-farm trials conducted	150+^R (reported)
Peer-reviewed scientific studies	110+^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

6 updates

About DSM-Firmenich

The team behind Bovaer

DSM-Firmenich

Nutrition, health, beauty, animal health, Bovaer methane inhibitor

Global nutrition, health, beauty, and animal health company formed by the May 2023 merger of DSM and Firmenich. With 30,000 employees, it commercializes Bovaer, a methane inhibitor cutting dairy methane 30% and beef 45%.

Bovaer reduces enteric methane from cattle by 30% in dairy herds and up to 45% in beef cattle.
Approved in more than 75 countries including the US (May 2024), EU, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Australia and South Korea.
500,000+ cows fed daily across 25+ countries; most extensively studied methane solution (150+ trials and 110+ peer-reviewed studies).

dsm-firmenich.com (opens dsm-firmenich.com)Company profile →

Founded: 20233 yrs
Headquarters: NetherlandsSwitzerland
Status: Public
Listed: DSFIRAMS
Valuation: $27Bmarket capOct 2026
Staff: ~30,000Jan 2026
Works in: AgricultureLivestock technology
Coverage: 1 program · 7 updateslatest 4 Nov 2024checked 10 Oct
Partners: Elanco (opens farmanimal.elanco.com)
People: Dimitri de Vreeze (opens our-company.dsm-firmenich.com)CEO

Spec

Bovaer

Methane reduction (dairy cattle)

30% average^R (reported)

Methane reduction (beef cattle)

Up to 45%^R (reported)

Milk carbon footprint reduction

10–15%^R (reported)

Cows fed daily (2026)

500,000+^R (reported)

Countries with commercial availability

75+^R (reported)

On-farm trials conducted

150+^R (reported)

Peer-reviewed scientific studies

110+^R (reported)

Bovaer

Milestones

Most important updates

Upcoming

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Inhibits the methane enzyme

Breaks into natural compounds

Reduces dairy carbon footprint

Spec sheet

Update log

Mon 4 Nov 2024

Mon 9 Sep 2024

Tue 28 May 2024

Tue 30 Jan 2024

Feb 2022

Sep 2021

About DSM-Firmenich

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Inhibits the methane enzyme

Breaks into natural compounds

Reduces dairy carbon footprint

Spec sheet

Update log

Mon 4 Nov 2024

Mon 9 Sep 2024

Tue 28 May 2024

Tue 30 Jan 2024

Feb 2022

Sep 2021

About DSM-Firmenich