Diet Change Reduces Cow Farts, Study Shows

The global greenhouse debate always involves a discussion of one kind of emission or other. The two greatest contributing factors to green house gas being the by-product of fossil fuel use and methane production by farm animals. Specifically, cows, sheep, and goats fart too much, releasing the greenhouse gas methane.

Thankfully, Reading University and the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) has been nosing around the problem and may have come up with a solution to help reduce methane emissions from farm animals, reports the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It seems that a simple change in diet could cut farm-related methane in the UK by up to 20%.

Perhaps this is some research from which we can all take some tips on diet and methane production (a.k.a. "farting").

The Reading and IBERS study indicates that a diet of maize silage, naked oats and higher sugar grasses could reduce gas in farm animals. While the by-product may be humorous to think of, the implications of reduced farts in farm animals offers to reduce one of the leading causes of methane gas.

Agricultural Minister Jim Paice said of the recent research, "We are committed to supporting the farming industry as it faces the challenge of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. It is very exciting that this new research has discovered that by simply changing the way we feed farm animals we have the potential to make a big difference to the environment."

It only stands to reason that if humans would clean up their diets it would be one more simple way to reduce methane. Of course, if people stop eating livestock that's going to cut down on the reproduction, which will automatically reduce the amount of livestock methane gas released into the atmosphere.

Although, I'm not sure a strictly vegetarian diet is the answer. Soy protein can really bring on the gas.

Farmers may as well go ahead and alter cow diets. It's doubtful humans are going to go for much cleaner diets.