Bottling Bovine Burps




Photos courtesy of Reuters

In Argentina, human and animal bodily fluids and gases are put to full use. In addition to utilising the urine of post menopausal women for fertility treatments, scientists are now using cow burps and farts to study global warming. They collect the bovine burps by attaching a large light weight plastic container to the back of the cow and connecting it to the stomach.

Apparently the digestive system of a cow produces a significant amount of methane which is a potent greenhouse gas. Researchers estimate that 30% of Argentina's green house gas emissions are generated by cattle. (they have 55 million head of cattle here!)

One cow can produce up to 1000 litres of emissions each day. The researchers collect and analyse the emissions to see if varying the diet can reduce the amount of methane.

Full article here

So before you make beans on toast or chile con carne , stop and think about reducing your own green house gases!

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11 comments:

Baino July 10, 2008 4:54 pm  

At least they have the sensitivity to dress the girls in pink! Quick question, what are they going to do with the methane they capture?

Paddy in BA (Quickroute) July 10, 2008 4:58 pm  

@ Baino: They are analysing if they change their diet will it reduce the methane. Load of old hot air if you ask me!

Anonymous,  July 10, 2008 7:00 pm  

haha!! this is funny. Now we bring cows into the study of global warming. :)

Megan July 10, 2008 8:07 pm  
This comment has been removed by the author.
Megan July 10, 2008 8:08 pm  

(that was me, deleting my duplicated comment)

Queen Goob July 10, 2008 8:11 pm  

That is hysterical - can't wait to see what they do with the excess methane. Almost feel as if they're pumping it into my house as I type this (teenaged son).

Anonymous,  July 10, 2008 11:48 pm  

I wonder if you lit that would it blast the cow off like a jet-pack.

She's never going to see any bull action with that thing on her back. It looks like one of my great-auntie's Carmen rollers.

Martin July 11, 2008 9:30 am  

Now you're just trying to win back that Veggie reader !

I wanna see that co fart it's way to the point of elevation!

Anonymous,  July 11, 2008 10:18 am  

Another reason to go veggie :-)

Shaunj July 12, 2008 4:40 pm  

Where do you get this stuff from man?
A students English conversation book I have says most methane emmisions come from "decaying livestock". I couldn't really explain it when a student asked but this makes way more sense :)

Paddy in BA (Quickroute) July 13, 2008 4:10 am  

@ Lover of Nature: And for my next trick....!


@ Megan: 2 cows to each person - scary!


@ Queen of Goob: Better to be upwind all right!


@ Problemchildbride: Not the sexiest bovine outfit for sure!


@ Xbox: this could be the source of UFO activity everywhere!


@ Conortje: I'm starting to understand why - slowly but surely!


@ Shaunj: I believe that should have been defacating livestock!

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