Now a British move to cut methane emissions by changing the cow’s diet

Now a British move to cut methane emissions by changing the cow's diet

 

Burping cows and sheep are being targeted by scientist in the Unite dKingdom to help bring down Britains soaring levels of greenhouse gas pollution. Experts at the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research in Aberystwyth, Wales say the diet of farmed animals can be changed to make them produce less methane a more potent global warming gas than carbon dioxide. Farmed ruminant animals are thought to be responsible for up to a quarter of "man made" methane emissions worldwide though contrary to common belief most gas emerges from their front nor rear ends.

Mike Abberton, a scientist at the institute, said farmers could help tackle climate change by growing grass varieties bred to have high sugar levels, white clover and birds foot trefoil, a leafy legume, for their animals to eat. The altered diet changes the way that bacteria in the stomachs of the animals breakdown plat materials into waste gas, he said. A single cow can produce between 100 and 200 litres of methane a day.

 (The Hindu, 11^th July 2007)