by Lance D Johnson, Natural News:
Climate scientists claim to have found a way to engineer cow farts to produce 30% less methane. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for the use of 3-Nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) as a feed additive for lactating dairy cattle. This approval, announced on May 28th, allows farmers to use the commercial product Bovaer™ to help mitigate enteric methane emissions in dairy cattle by around 30%. While this is great news for the climate change agenda (which is a hoax to begin with, by the way), more long term research is needed to understand the chemical compound’s effects on the cow’s microbiome and its ability to assimilate nutrients.
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3-NOP reduces methane emissions, but is it good for the animals’ microbiome long term?
Research indicates that 3-NOP can significantly reduce methane emissions from dairy cattle. While the scientific literature shows a pattern of safety, there are unknowns for long term exposure to the chemical, and its effects on the cow’s microbiome. A meta-analysis conducted by Pennsylvania State University found that supplementing cattle with 3-NOP reduced methane emissions by 123 grams per day (28%) without affecting feed intake or milk yield. Interestingly, the study also noted a 90-gram per day increase in milk fat yield. However, some studies show that certain breeds are affected differently, and diets also play a large role in 3-NOP’s effects.
Another meta-analysis from the University of California, Davis, observed a 33% reduction in methane emissions but also highlighted that the effectiveness of 3-NOP was influenced by the fiber content of the cow’s diet. Lower fiber levels and higher fat levels in the diet were found to increase the efficacy of the additive. With fiber level being a contributing factor in the efficacy of 3-NOP, there is likely a connection to the gut microbiome of the cow. 3-NOP could potentially lower milk production over time by affecting the gut microbiome of the cow. If higher fiber levels are needed over time, the cows’ gut microbiome could potentially be taking on damage long term. The need for more fiber suggests potential nutrient depletion and the need for cultivating commensal microbes for greater nutrient assimilation.
While short-term results are promising for controlling methane, questions remain about the long-term effects of 3-NOP supplementation. A European study involving full-lactation supplementation found a 21% reduction in methane emissions without affecting dry matter intake. Notably, the study observed a 6.5% increase in energy-corrected milk yield in cows supplemented with 3-NOP. However, further research, particularly studies conducted under U.S. production conditions, is needed to confirm these findings. One study found that 3-NOP can effectively decrease methane emissions in dairy cows across diets, but the level of mitigation was greater when the cows were supplemented in a corn silage-based diet compared with a grass silage-based diet. Another study showed that cows did not approve of a 3-NOP diet at first, and had to be acclimated to it over time — a natural indicator that something in 3-NOP may be negatively affecting the livestock.
