Scandinavian countries are moving to suspend the mandated use of Bovaer, a methane-reducing additive designed to reduce bovine flatulence. A contributor to methane pollution, cow farts were supposed to be reduced by the additive to reduce climate-harming pollutant. However, there are widespread reports of collapse, lethargy, reduced feed intake, fever, diarrhea, and significant drops in milk production. There are also reports of cow miscarriages and deaths, though most involve discomfort and farmers reported that the cows improved after cessation of the supplement. What could follow is a colossal product liability lawsuit.
Various countries, like Denmark, made the additive mandatory for the inclusion in feed only to have widespread reports of serious harm to cows. Norway and other countries have suspended the use of Bovaer. It is also used in the United States, but it is not required.
Most reports involve sickness and reduced production in dairy herds.
The question is whether the manufacturer is liable. Elanco US is still advertising the benefits of the supplement:
“Every dairy could use additional, diversified income. That’s where Bovaer® from Elanco comes in. Bovaer is one of the most scientifically researched and recognized methane-reduction feed ingredients globally. Bovaer provides an access point for dairy producers to be financially rewarded for reducing their dairy’s carbon footprint by decreasing their herd’s enteric methane emissions.”
There is also the question of the liability of countries that forced dairy farmers to use the product.
If these reports are accurate, the manufacturer could be sued for a design defect and, in light of the statements above, possible warning defects.
Given the widespread complaints, there is a legitimate question of whether the drug was adequately tested. Alternatively, the company could argue that these reports are condition-related and reflect other causes, where correlation is not causation. The company could also claim that the problems are due to incorrect use of the supplement, such as incorrect dosage or delivery.
What is interesting about this case is the possible increase in damages in countries where the supplement was mandated. It is not clear if there are added protections or waivers granted to the company in these countries.
This could be a warning, manufacturing, or design defect. We do not have enough facts. A manufacturing defect is the least likely unless it is shown that the company failed to properly monitor the concentration of the active ingredients during production or allowed them to be altered by environmental conditions.
It could prove both a warning and a design defect. The company states that “Bovaer has no negative impact on the quantity or quality of milk produced.” It cites a 2022 study to support that claim: Hristov AN, Melgar A, Wasson D, Arndt C. Symposium review: Effective nutritional strategies to mitigate enteric methane in dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci. 2022:105(10):8543–57. However, that study also adds a caveat about the use of certain ingredients in some of these methane-reducing products. For example:
“The red macroalga Asparagopsis taxiformis has a strong CH4 mitigation effect, but studies are needed to determine its feasibility, long-term efficacy, and effects on animal production and health. We concluded that widespread adoption of mitigation strategies with proven effectiveness by the livestock industries will depend on cost, government policies and incentives, and willingness of consumers to pay a higher price for animal products with decreased carbon footprint.”
Again, we need to know more about the composition of the supplement used in these countries.
Under the Restatement Second of Torts, the consumer expectations test asks whether the product is more dangerous than the expectations of the ordinary consumer. Under the more demanding test of the Restatement Third, the question is whether there is a reasonable alternative design. Both would appear viable for plaintiffs if these accounts are proven correct.
The most obvious approach in the United States would be a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer. Indeed, we could see filings in various states and the need for the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) to intervene and consolidate the cases in a single district.
A whole mountain range of human capital has been destroyed trying to eliminate a naturally occurring trace gas from the atmosphere. If the efforts were successful it would end plant life on this planet which would spell doom for all animal life, including us, as well.
The stupidity of the world animal haters shows itself again. In California the cow feces are stored in covered concrete bins. The result is trapped methane due to fermentation and the gas is sold to a utility that burns the gas to power steam generators that produce electricity. Methane burns with less carbon emissions than coal. Natural gas one of the safest and cleanest fuels available. It emits less pollution than other fossil fuel sources. No mining required. When natural gas is burned, it produces mostly carbon dioxide and water vapor — the same substances emitted when humans exhale. The remainder of the manure is then safely used on fields that grow the food you eat. If you let them they will also tell you that the invention of the plow was really a bad thing because it put people out of work. Next will be close McDonalds and ban the hamburger. I hear tell that they are now making hamburgers out of bugs. How dare they hold a bugs life in such disdain. How can they have no compassion for the thousands of one bugs children who have been left without a father. Vanity signaling has now become an art form rewarded by the giving of a Nobel Peace Prize in the category of look at me all of the time because I am eating bugs and saving the plants at the same time. Thank you for my award and helping me tell the bulls—t about the bulls—t.
People have criticized (laughed at) those that wear masks while driving alone …… these brainwashed/paranoid drivers accurately represent those that are concerned with cow-farts. There is room for all of God’s creatures – right next to my vegetables and mashed potatoes.
These days, “Scientific Studies” are like statistics – you can get them to say whatever you want. As in “you get what you pay for”. Studies concerning “climate change” are consistently at the very bottom of this great steaming pile.
A company that designed a product to reduce cow farts is most certainly populated by people who despise the livestock industry on principle, along with some opportunistic grifters. Why is there a market for this product? Oh yeah … “government incentives”.
Bovaer (?) Is it safe to use on your Wife?
Where can I get me some of that?
I buy mine through the Ag Coop – It’s a lifesaver when ole Hildabeast gets gassed up.
https://www.brownfieldagnews.com/news/elancos-bovaer-feed-additive-approved-by-fda/
https://farmanimal.elanco.com/us/dairy/bovaer
Try Gas-X. It’s widely available in most drug stores:)
Gas=X, it is useless….💣
Wifey’s farts are THAT BAD💣????
Once upon a time a billion wild Buffalo roamed North America farting freely I have no doubt. Perhaps the logo for the fart-free chemical is Wild Bill Cody? 🐃
The beef is of such poor quality now it’s 🤢. I don’t know what that stuff is. Maybe it’s beaf.
It is difficult to believe, as Chat says, that cows constitute 12% of each, every, and all animals on earth, including humans—I have a sense that the true number is lower.
Dinosaur methane emissions were “likely more substantial” than those of cows, and the Mesozoic Era persisted for 186 million years completely bereft of climate admonitions from Ted Danson.
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~12% of all such large animals on Earth are cows.
– ChatGPT
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AI Overview
Studies suggest that dinosaur methane emissions, particularly from large, plant-eating sauropods, were likely more substantial in absolute metric tons than those of modern bovines.
Oh, and, Professor Turley, I think the polite verb form is “flatulate.”
*. I’m definitely more concerned about the health of Plankton in the oceans because it is responsible for 80% of the oxygen humans and others cannot live without. Think of whale facts, too.
Plankton farts oxygen.
I tried to think of an appropriate well reasoned response to this approach from the ‘climate change’ fighters but i realized that any mind which can actually be afraid of cow farts is, by its own choice of ideology, absolutely impervious to facts, reason, and the effective use of the human mind.
Animal lovers of the world unite! If you wan to make the world a cleaner place you gotta make a few cows sick. It’s simply the price that must be payed in the formulation of a new world order. The love loss for the poor cows is justified by any means necessary to save the WORLD. Next we’re going to have to look at usin that drug on uncle Henry after the big Thanksgiving get together. We’ve all got to do our fart. Sorry, I meant to say part.
Once again, the “remedy” is worse than the alleged problem. The world is slowly coming to the realization that Global Warming AKA Climate Change AKA “THE END OF THE WORLD” is a complete fraud based, not on science, but the desire to separate as much money from unsuspecting tax payers as possible.
The sheer lunacy of the environmental zealot can not be exaggerated…
It’s not “lunacy”; it’s a very rational and coherent desire to pull the wool over people’s eyes and take over the whole world.
There’s nothing wrong with global conquest; the world’s leaders have been attempting that for millennia.
It’s not enough that humans have been made to suffer because of The Global Warming Hoax. Now we are making innocent cows suffer,
From a different angle entirely, I simply express my regret and commensurate sadness that we humans subject captive/factory-farmed animals to such experiment, discomfort and suffering/pain for our own exclusive $$$ benefit. We are not just talking about a few random “trial” studies or efforts here….our disrespect for other species is regretful.
“The are not brethren. They are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time; fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth.” Henry Beston (1921)
Pffft! They taste delicious!!!!
You can’t beat a 6 oz. filet mignon, cooked medium rare, baked potato with butter & sour cream, green beans, Caesar salad, bottle of Malbec, followed by tiramisu, and great company.
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Your humor flies low. I have gone to many, many cocktail parties/holiday gatherings where foie gras was served as an appetizer, particularly tasty with dry wine or champagne. I loved it.
—-Until I learned that it is made by over-feeding ducks and geese by inserting metal or plastic pipes down their throats, (after they have stopped eating because they are satiated) to force-feed and enhance “fatty livers.”
I am of Scandinavian and Western Europe heritage. At least these countries knew to outlaw it.
Upstate Farmer has often made note of his care for his animals.
I enjoy a good steak just like everyone else. But I get mine from a local farmer whom I know to take good care and humanely treat/kill his animals.
Lin, I eat meat, but like the Torah, I do not see animals as objects. They feel pain, they need rest and food, and the Torah explicitly forbids causing unnecessary suffering. Cruelty is not permitted. Compassion toward animals is not optional; it is a core command.
I use the Torah’s words to show how this thinking is not a recent development of modern man. It existed thousands of years ago.
S. Meyer: Good for you. re: respect for the ages-old Torah, that has stood the test of time: (“fools rush in, where wise men never go…”) thanks, you.
Your humor flies low.
I never cared for PETA. Then again, I enthusiastically paid Florida property taxes when I lived there to support public schools for all Florida children. As for cows in a distant continent, local children are far more important. Alas, I’m Catholic hence our different hierarchy of obligations.
Who’s talking about PETA? Only y ou. Yeah, estovie, we know. We understand. You always have a holier, a higher cause than we do. You like to tell us about it. Yeah, human children eating beef are a higher order than the mama cow standing there while her newborn child is torn from her while nursing, to kill the newborn calf cuz we need that rennet to make our delicious cheese to go along with our Malbec, and calf’s liver is oh so tender.
The comments here have veered into the subject of what I would characterize as the human subjugation and exploitation of the other animals. Perhaps someday the human race can rise above eating their fellow creatures. The reports of the creation of meat in a laboratory may offer a path forward.