Sunday, December 04, 2005

A Cure for Gassy Cows?

No, really! Scientist in the UK (those daffy Brits) are working on decreasing methane emissions from cows:

Cows belching and breaking wind cause methane pollution, but British scientists say they have developed a diet to make pastures smell like roses — almost.

“In some experiments we get a 70 percent decrease (in methane emissions), which is quite staggering,” biochemist John Wallace told Reuters in a telephone interview.


At least they didn't take the New Zealand approach:

In New Zealand the government in 2003 proposed a flatulence tax, with methane emitted by farm animals responsible for more than half the country’s greenhouse gases. The plan was ultimately withdrawn after widespread protests.