Wallabies Could Solve Global Cow Methane Problem

July 3rd, 2011 by Tina Casey

We can thank the cows of the world, along with other ruminant livestock, for contributing about 28 percent of global methane emissions related to human activity by dint of their enthusiastic flatulence. Methane capture is one way to get a handle on the situation, but a group of scientists in Australia has chosen to confront the problem at the source. They’ve identified a bacteria in wallabies that could help cows and other large ruminants produce less methane gas while digesting their food — sort of like Beano, but for bovines.

When it Comes to Methane, Belching Matters, Too

Before we get any farther into this subject, we should clarify just one point. Yes, the fart jokes are tempting, but belching is also a significant source of methane emissions from livestock. It’s just not as funny as farting. The basic problem is that whether it comes from one end of the cow or the other, methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and livestock contributes a lot of it to the atmosphere.

Wallabies and Methane Gas

The scientists are from Australia’s national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. According to writer Belinda Tasker, they were inspired by studies of wallabies. These little kangaroo-type creatures which have pretty much the same diet as cattle but produce only about one-fifth as much methane. Upon further investigation, the scientists discovered that wallaby stomachs are home to a bacterium that enables them to process nutrients more efficiently, without venting as much of the undesirable side effect. Cattle possess similar bacteria, only in smaller quantities. The next step would be to figure out how to increase the population of potential gas-fighting bacteria in cattle.

The Fart-Free Cow of the Future

Aside from exploring the bacteria angle, researchers are looking into the impact of diet on methane emissions from ruminants. Fish oil can help reduce methane emissions from cows, for example. Algae may be another methane-fighting dietary supplement, and a few years ago a team of researchers in Canada came up with a set of calculations for a delicately balanced diet that could reduce methane emissions by about 25 percent. Even a simple change like adding chopped hay and straw to the diet seems to do the trick.

Image: Wallaby by wwarby on flickr.com.

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Tags: bacteria, Beano, cow farts, diet, methane emissions, ruminant belching, ruminant methane emissions

About the Author

Tina Casey Tina Casey specializes in military and corporate sustainability, advanced technology, emerging materials, biofuels, and water and wastewater issues. Tina’s articles are reposted frequently on Reuters, Scientific American, and many other sites. Views expressed are her own. Follow her on Twitter @TinaMCasey and Google+.

Michaelt337

disgusting! one problem to cover another? what testing are the going/have to put wallabies and cows through. The point is beef and dairy are overproduced and over consumed products of the U.S. so I never accredit the cows for the pollution! We are to blame! The meat and dairy industry account for over 50% of pollution as it stands! thats more than all vehicles(cars truck planes boats, etc.) produce. so instead of trying to cover up a problem with another maybe we could take a look at our own diets.
this is not a slolution

Thank you
Denis Byrne

Poor cows again, just let them eat their food
Jake Marion

I would like to see a study of methane emissions from grass-fed cows (reportedlt producers of healthier beef) as compared to corn-fed cows (most common feed-lot staple).
According to some, cows should be eating grasses (dandelion, clover, yarrow, timothy).
If cows are lesss gassy on a grass diet and produce healthier beef, it would be wise to feed them that way.
Cindyvdz

why not just feed the cows what they were designed to eat…
http://profiles.google.com/thejbills Jesse Williams

Tina, I want to talk to you about the title of your article. Anytime a title reads “X” could solve the global “Y” problem, and X is some new found phenomena or a new invention. Then the title immediately signals sensational journalism without any true value.

I’m sorry to be so harsh but I see it all the time and it rubs me the wrong way. Because findings such as this, while maybe interesting in and of themselves, will not save the world (as everyone knows). There is simply not enough driving force to achieve a scale large enough to “solve a global problem”. You know this. I know this…

Anyway, thanks for the article. Please refrain from using sensational, illogical titles in the future.
- Tina Casey
  
  Hi Jesse, I don’t get your point. For the benefit of our readers, could you please restate what you mean? Thanks! Tina
- lui
  
  glass is half empty I take it?