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Cows
Topic Started: Aug 18 2006, 09:12 AM (98 Views)
TJDIXI
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Trevor Francis
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Quote:
 
Scientists have been given the tough job of making grass-chomping cows less whiffy.

One dairy cow gives off enough methane gas in a single day to fill around 400 empty litre bottles of pop, which is really bad for the environment. Once it's left the cow, all that methane gas goes up into the atmosphere and makes the hole in the ozone layer bigger, making global warming worse.

Beans: probably not for cows. The cows also lose energy every time they let one go, so it's important for them as well as the environment.

Apart from the obvious - don't feed baked beans to cows - the scientists have worked out a special mixture to give the cows to make them smell sweeter.

They've been given a big pile of money to make sure it all works, and will be hoping for a pat on the back at the end of the project.


BBC - Newsround

Quote:
 
Scientists are working to beat global warming by stopping cows from burping and farting so much.
Cows can produce 500 litres of methane, which is bad for the environment, every day, mostly through burping.

Experts in Aberdeen hope an additive in their feed will prevent cows and sheep from making so much of the gas.

It could also be good news for farmers, because it's thought putting out less methane saves energy for the animals, letting them grow more quickly.

In tests on sheep, scientists found that for every kilogramme of the special food an animal ate, it got 10% more body weight.

The additive in the food works as part of the normal way the cows break down food.

It's hoped the special feed could cut the amount of methane cows produce down by 70%.


BBC - Newsround

Quote:
 
Trial bid to stop belching cattle 

Cows and bulls can produce 500 litres of methane a day
Aberdeen scientists are carrying out commercial trials on a feed additive which they hope will stop cows from producing large amounts of methane.
Cattle are capable of producing 500 litres of the potent greenhouse gas every day, mostly through belching.

Researchers at the Rowett Research Institute have found a way of cutting back on the methane produced by ruminants like sheep and cows.

A one-year trial has now begun with an unnamed commercial partner.

The natural additive works as part of the normal digestive process.

Dr John Wallace, who is leading the research, said: "We've done a lamb trial recently in which we used this additive and we obtained a 70% decrease in methane formation.

"This is great for the environment but it's also a win-win situation as the farmer benefits as well because the energy in that methane is retained in the animal's body.

'Positive effect'

"It means the animals grow 10% more efficiently. For every kilogramme of feed they consume they produce 10% more body weight."

The hope is to get the same methane reduction seen in sheep for cows.

However, farmers will be more interested in the resulting weight gain.

Aberdeenshire beef farmer Alistair Smart said: "The environmentally friendliness of the thing is very difficult for us farmers to equate to.

"It would never come into our daily equations but if there is a weight gain to be had it's going to be beneficial and going to have a double-edged positive effect."


BBC - News

thought i'd share this with you. good stuff. Just wonder when there going to invent something to deal with my farting!






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davekermito
Paul Tait
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Fuel crisis solved!

Bad facts in the first quote though, methane and the hole in the ozone have nothing to do with each other.
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proccy_blues
Joe Bradford
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davekermito
Aug 18 2006, 10:34 AM
Fuel crisis solved!

Bad facts in the first quote though, methane and the hole in the ozone have nothing to do with each other.

are you sure dave? i've read that methane does contribute - or is it global warming?? :unsure:
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davekermito
Paul Tait
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methane (like carbon dioxide) contribute towards the greenhouse effect (ie changing the wavelength of the suns rays preventing reflected heat from escaping)

CFCs, fluons and their derivatives break up ozone.

Lesson finished. Class dismissed.
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