fbpx
Print this page
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 14:55

Bovaer delay

Written by  Milking It

OPINION: While authorities in New Zealand take their time to decide if a feed supplement promising to slash a cow's methane output should enter the New Zealand market, other countries are giving the green light to farmers to use it.

Research has found Bovaer can reduce a cow's methane output by 30% in non-pasture cattle. Fonterra also announced it would team up with DSM to trial the product in early 2021.

While officials blame Covid and the high number of other applications for the delay, politicians are pointing out that the waiting is costing the industry.

Bovaer has now been cleared in more than 45 countries, with Paraguay the most recent. Bovaer, developed by Dutch animal health firm DSM, first applied in February 2021 for Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) approval in NZ. DSM is no doubt hoping that a positive ruling is imminent.

More like this

Substitute for cow's milk?

OPINION: Scientists claim to have found a new way to make a substitute for cow's milk that could have a radical effect on the dairy industry.

Breathalyser for cows

OPINION: The Irish have come up with a novel way to measure cow belching, which is said to account for 70% of total agri-emissions in Ireland.

Monopolised

OPINION: Not everyone will agree with former 'Minister of Everything' Stephen Joyce on his summation of Fonterra when writing recently about NZ's tendency to legislate for monopolies: "We allowed Fonterra to be created, with its near-monopoly over milk collectin, and have since been on a long journey of dissatisfaction with its performance up until quite recent times."

Meat the Need!

OPINION: A plug is overdue for Meat the Need, who is currently fundraising to help supply more meals to families in need.

Takeover bid?

OPINION: Canterbury milk processor Synlait is showing no sign of bouncing back from its financial doldrums.

Featured

Feds make case for rural bank lending probe

Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.

National

Canada's flagrant dishonesty

Deeply cynical and completely illogical. That's how Kimberly Crewther, the executive director of DCANZ is describing the Canadian government's flagrant…

Regional leader award

Eastern Bay of Plenty farmer Rebecca O’Brien was named the 2024 Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) Regional Leader of the Year.

Machinery & Products

Tractor, harvester IT comes of age

Over the last halfdecade, digital technology has appeared to be the “must-have” for tractor and machinery companies, who believe that…