Sensors measure cow flatulence – for science

Julia Sklar, contributor

(Image: Mark Thiessen/NGS)

Despite appearances, these cows are not wearing jetpacks. They are having their flatulence measured by Teagasc, Ireland's Agricultural and Food Development Authority. Teagasc hopes to find a way to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions without cutting milk production.

Cows and other ruminants emit methane gas into the atmosphere, but the amount released has been hard to measure. Teagasc has estimated that livestock contribute one-fifth of global methane emissions.

By strapping these methane-measuring devices to dairy cows, Teagasc can catch their every fart, giving a more accurate measure. They also estimate emissions by examining the cows' faeces. If the faeces contain archaeol - methane-producing microbes that cows use to digest food - it suggests the cow is a big emitter.

Other groups have created gas-sniffing submarines that lurk inside cows' stomachs to track their methane emissions.

Teagasc has also been experimenting with diet changes - for instance limiting their intake of silage - that can reduce methane emissions.

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/295b65e3/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cshortsharpscience0C20A130C0A30Ccow0Eflatulence0Bhtml0Dcmpid0FRSS0QNSNS0Q20A120EGLOBAL0Qonline0Enews/story01.htm

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