Science Note: Reducing Bovine Belches and Global Warming Gases

LUCAS: If cows were more polite, wed have one less pollution problem to worry about. Whenever cows let loose a little gasparticularly when they burpthey emit methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. In fact, the EPA estimates that burping cattle accounted for roughly two and a half percent of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2012.

It turns out, those potent burps come from interactions within a complex community of microorganisms in the cows gut. Some of those microbes break down cellulose, otherwise indigestible fibers that make up plants cell walls. That process produces hydrogen. Then, simple, primitive organisms called Archaea use that hydrogen and produce methane.

Petra Simic, the scientist leading DSMs project. (Photo: Courtesy of DSMs promotional video for the project)

Now, researchers led by Dutch scientists are developing a feed additive that inhibits some of those Archaea, to reduce methane emissions from cows. So far, the team has reduced methane as much as 60%, depending on which stage of milk production the cows are in, and this new process doesnt interfere with the cows digestion or how much they eat.

The next step is to make sure the additive is safe for cows, workers who deal with it, and people who drink the milk. All they need now is to work on the cows manners.

Thats this weeks note on emerging science. Im Jake Lucas.LUCAS: If cows were more polite, wed have one less pollution problem to worry about. Whenever cows let loose a little gasparticularly when they burpthey emit methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. In fact, the EPA estimates that burping cattle accounted for roughly two and a half percent of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2012.

It turns out, those potent burps come from interactions within a complex community of microorganisms in the cows gut. Some of those microbes break down cellulose, otherwise indigestible fibers that make up plants cell walls. That process produces hydrogen. Then, simple, primitive organisms called Archaea use that hydrogen and produce methane.

Petra Simic, the scientist leading DSMs project. (Photo: Courtesy of DSMs promotional video for the project)

Now, researchers led by Dutch scientists are developing a feed additive that inhibits some of those Archaea, to reduce methane emissions from cows. So far, the team has reduced methane as much as 60%, depending on which stage of milk production the cows are in, and this new process doesnt interfere with the cows digestion or how much they eat.

The next step is to make sure the additive is safe for cows, workers who deal with it, and people who drink the milk. All they need now is to work on the cows manners.

Thats this weeks note on emerging science. Im Jake Lucas.