3-NOP (or Bovaer)
To our knowledge, 3-NOP is not currently being sold to farmers to be used commercially in Canada. It is, however, approved in Canada, which is a prerequisite for any product used in agriculture, including for research purposes. We note that dairy farmers are not expected to adopt a specific option or technology to abate emissions but can choose what fits best for them and their farm.
Canadian approval process
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has a strict approval process, and farmers can only use approved products. You can visit the CFIA website to learn more about their review and approval process for this product here, and its review of the scientific findings here. As of 2023, science showed no impact on the health of the cow or her milk.
Various Feed Strategies
Adjusting feed rations by selecting quality forages, adding nutrients to balance the ration or other ways to maximize feed efficiency enhance productivity of animals. These reduce emissions linked to rumination of animals. And it is only one of the various ways farmers can reduce emissions from farms.
Other mitigation measures
There are many practices that are widely adopted on farms that have successfully proven their economic and environmental benefits. Some actions work to mitigate methane emissions from cows and manure, and others help to mitigate other greenhouse gasses in cropping.
Read about some these practices in the Best Management Practices Guide to Mitigate Emissions on Dairy Farms and here.
