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View Full Version : (article) Cows that burp less seen helping in climate fight



Vegan Joe
July 10th, 2007, 11:07 PM
http://green.yahoo.com/index.php?q=node/994
^^^ complete article ^^^

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:20:28 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) -

Manners aside, getting cows to burp less can help reduce global warming.

Using modern plant-breeding methods to find new diets for cows that make them belch less is a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, scientists said on Monday.

The key is developing new varieties of food that are easier for cattle to digest and also provide a proper balance of fiber, protein and sugar, said Michael Abberton, a scientist at the UK-based Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research.

This could open up plant-based solutions as alternatives to reducing stock as farmers look for ways to cut methane emissions amid warming climates, he told a briefing on farming and climate change at London's Science Media Centre.

He noted the average dairy cow belches out about 100 to 200 liters of methane each day, making diet changes a key potential factor in reducing this greenhouse gas.

peace
July 11th, 2007, 10:29 AM
Once again an example of what can happen when the debate about animal agriculture is not centered on the animals themselves.

If the health argument gets the most press, animals that produce "leaner", lower-fat products will be raised. If the eco argument is currently in vogue, corporations will develop animals that produce slightly less waste. Neither helps lesson the suffering in the factory farms.