It’s the cow flatulence, stupid

Cars and industry in general are obviously the prime contributors to greenhouse gas emissions but farm animal flatulence is right up there.

Up to 60% of global methane pollution is placed at their hooves, say researchers looking to curb the problem at the Rowett Research Institute in Scotland.

Institute researchers say a cure needs to be found because the average cow contributes as much to global warming as a family car that travels 12,000 miles and that methane is 24 times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide. Methane is said to contribute as much as 18% towards the global warming.

Rowett Research Institute scientists are experimenting with adding fumaric acid to animal feed to reduce ruminant wind. Fumaric acid is a chemical that traps hydrogen produced by their digestive systems and stops it being turned into methane. Results of trials in lambs have far exceeded expectations, cutting the volume of methane by up to 70%. But cows have proved more stubborn, and the scientists have been frustrated so far in their attempts to substantially reduce their flatulence, according to an article on the Telegraph.co.uk Web site.

An institute spokesman said it was looking for commercial partners for the research, but said it was too early to say how its findings would be used or how the new feed would be distributed.The New Zealand government briefly considered taxing farmers on their herds' methane output but the proposal had to be dropped following opposition.

Some think the answer or part of it lies in is a better cow gas meter.

"Curiously enough, a cow is 90% inefficient. Ninety percent of what she eats goes right back out. It just so happens that the conversion that takes place in the rumen makes the nutrients more available in the grass than what was in the soil," Bill Dunlap, who raises about a dozen beef cows a year in Lakeview, N.C. told the IndyWeek.com Web site.

Layer 8 in a box

Check out these other hot stories:

Advanced energy, nanotechnology and computing needed for US to compete

International cyber-cop unit girds for uphill battles

What are the 14 greatest engineering challenges for the 21st century?

Intellectual property protection needs a kick in the pants

Wal-Mart's 'greenest' store devours 45% less energy

Annoying online advertiser to pay record $2.9 million to settle FTC charges

DARPA chief outlines expansive array of future networking projects

What do March Madness and vasectomies have in common?

• General discussions
• global warming
• Rowett Research Institute
• sheep