Addressing dairy sustainability goals through a comprehensive and holistic approach and taking into consideration the entire operation as the active unit mitigating environmental impact is the ultimate way to ensure all initiatives fulfill the true definition of sustainability.

On May 28, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Bovaer met its safety and efficacy requirements for use in dairy cattle. This is a watershed moment, as this approval is the first of its kind and is likely to be the first of many as methane-mitigating feed additives continue to receive investment, research, and development from a variety of public and private organizations.

Let’s walk through the main fatty acids found in dairy diets and talk specifically about the signals they are sending beyond being utilized for energy. While they may seem complex, the stakes are high in understanding their roles as there is a rare function of the cow that is not impacted by fatty acids. 

Unfortunately, cows don’t have a dashboard with gauges to tell us which minerals they are low on. Minerals may be considered when things aren’t going well, but how do we know if minerals aren’t adequate? Liver biopsies allow us to check the actual status of the cow without assuming they are OK simply because minerals were offered in the feed. In that sense, liver biopsies are the gauge to tell us how the cow is doing.

Feed additives have been highlighted as the best way to reduce enteric methane emissions in the short term due to their ease of applicability in a dairy farm. Typically, additives account for less than 1% of a dairy cow’s diet, but they have a drastic impact on enteric methane – up to 30% on commercial farms.