Bovaer, 3-NOP: "Futuristic milk"
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The biggest dairy in Norway (Tine) has taken it upon themselves to save the planet. By adding "Bovaer", or 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) to the cows feed, the methane inhibitor aims to reduce the methane emissions from cows by approximately 25%.
What consequences will this have on the cows themselves? Further, what consequences will this have on the consumers of dairy? I have read speculation regarding the intestinal flora being disrupted by the additive, possibly also in the consumers of the products from these cows.
Bovaer is developed by "DSM Nutritional Products Ltd DSM".
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If their reasoning is as faulty as saying CO2 is as bad in the atmosphere, I would begin by avoiding their milk unless there is clear proof the milk is safe for humans and the feed safe for then cows.
After all, there are choices.
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@NateHiggers Considering the compound chiefly involves silicon dioxide and propylene glycol, I'd assume the milk would be allergenic unless the cows can filter it somehow. Even if a true allergy to PG isn't in play, I'd be very concerned because it's a penetration enhancer. So I wouldn't be surprised if the cows themselves had issues from the stuff as well.
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The methane produced by cows in its feces is widely used in farms elsewhere as a power source, as I understand it.
But no country is as invested as Norway in going away from carbon-based fuels, despite it having oil reserves and producing revenues to fund its conversion to non-carbon energy, such as hydro power sources and wind power and solar power. And it maybe the only country that does not have to rely on carbon-based (nor nuclear) fuel to generate electricity to power its high usage of electric vehicles.
I would not be surprised if there are government incentives behind Bovaer's decision to use 3-NOP. As this aligns with the zero-carbon goals of the world shitinatti.