We’ve all seen the Got Milk? ads that show some of the most popular celebrities wearing milk mustaches. And we all know that when celebrities endorse something, it has got to be good for us, right?
Well, there’s something else from cows that could be good for us and the environment the more that we learn about it, but it’s nowhere near as tasty as milk.
Scientists in Buenos Aires have recently discovered that the methane released from cow burps could be responsible for 30% of Argentina’s greenhouse gas emissions! That’s because one cow weighing up to 550 kg can produce up to 1,000 liters of methane emissions a day!
And with Argentina being one of the biggest cattle producers in the world, that could be quite alarming for the fight against global warming.
So what are the scientists doing? They are currently monitoring 10 cows whose burps are being collected in yellow balloons that are hanging from their stable roofs. In the past scientists have also strapped a red plastic tank on a cow’s back that is connected to a tube in the cow’s stomach to analyze the burps.
By analyzing the burps and changing the food that is given to the cows, the scientists hope to reduce the methane emissions by up to 25%.
Knowing this, and knowing that the meat packing industry is a huge contributor to our carbon footprint, it makes me think that maybe we should just help these cows out by not eating them and feeding them a healthier diet.
These guys would agree:
