Thread: Cow farts collected in plastic tank for global warming study

Cow farts collected in plastic tank for global warming study

By Rupert Neate
Last Updated: 9:55PM BST 09/07/2008
Scientists are examining cow farts and burps in a novel bid to combat global warming.


REUTERS
Argentine scientists are strapping plastic tanks to the backs of cows
Experts said the slow digestive system of cows makes them a key producer of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that gets far less public attention than carbon dioxide.

In a bid to understand the impact of the wind produced by cows on global warming, scientists collected gas from their stomachs in plastic tanks attached to their backs.

The Argentine researchers discovered methane from cows accounts for more than 30 per cent of the country's total greenhouse emissions.

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As one of the world's biggest beef producers, Argentina has more than 55 million cows grazing in its famed Pampas grasslands.

Guillermo Berra, a researcher at the National Institute of Agricultural Technology, said every cow produces between 8000 to 1,000 litres of emissions every day.

Methane, which is also released from landfills, coal mines and leaking gas pipes, is 23 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

Scientists are now carrying out trials of new diets designed to improve cows's digestion and hopefully reduce global warming. Silvia Valtorta, of the National Council of Scientific and Technical Investigations, said that by feeding cows clover and alfalfa instead of grain "you can reduce methane emissions by 25 percent".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... study.html

Global Warming:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

too funny zeezil!

Now that's funny Zeezil!!!!

SO, tell me, the article does not state HOW they "trapped" the farts of the cows??????? Can one imagine it had something to do with a tube.....somewhere?

They pay these people to do this (yes I realize this was in Argentina, but we all know that someone here would also pay these former potheads to trap cow farts and study them!!)?

OK, I want to get paid to study the "greenhouse emissions" from our many blithering politicians and their constant open mouths. Maybe the study would find that if we duct tape all of their mouths, things would actually get done and save the planet at the same time!!!!!!

OMG you all are too funny! thanks for the laugh, we sure need it some days.

You just have to laugh at some of mankinds more ridiculous things they do Sosad.

Sometimes it seems so unimaginable we study such stuff....cow farts, geez!