Cows, Methane and Seaweed:

[beecee]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-03-18/cows-fed-seaweed-methane-emissions-reduced-82-per-cent/13253102#:~:text=Feeding cattle a small amount,up to 86 per cent.

Cows fed small amount of seaweed burp 86 per cent less methane in trial:

Feeding cattle a small amount of a seaweed species found in Australia has been shown to reduce their methane emissions by up to 86 per cent.

Supplementing either 0.25 per cent or 0.5 per cent of a cow's daily feed with Asparagopsis taxiformis — a red seaweed native to Australian coastal waters — resulted in an average drop in methane production of over 50 per cent and 74 per cent respectively over a 147-day period, according to a study published today in the journal PLOS.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has a warming potential around 25 times that of CO2 over a 100-year period.

Key points:

• Red seaweed contains a compound that can reduce the production of methane
• Proponents say it could be the equivalent of removing 100 million cars from the road if adopted by the agriculture industry
• Some scientists warn the side effects of eating red seaweed on a large scale could include the production of ozone-depleting gas.
• ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::https://www.csiro.au/en/research/animals/livestock/futurefeed

• Feeding livestock a seaweed supplement called FutureFeed could simultaneously help to secure global food security and fight climate change by reducing powerful greenhouse gas emissions.

   

  The challenge

  A hungry, warming world

  More than 800 million people are currently experiencing food insecurity, a number that will grow as further increases in the world's population put an even greater strain on the food chain. Furthermore, approximately 1.3 billion people rely on livestock such as cattle and sheep for their livelihoods. Consequently, there is a significant need for increasing productivity in livestock production to help lift people out of economic and food poverty. If livestock could be helped to grow larger faster, and at little expense, then a significant part of the problem could be alleviated. more at link.....................

• :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Is this the answer? Certainly not a complete answer, but could well see things heading in a more beneficial direction I suggest. Comments?

[MigL]

Cows produce methane by the action of methanogenic microbes in their ore-stomach.
These microbes break down coarse plants and produce methane as part of pre-digestion.
Feeding the cows something that obstructs the methane producing  microbial action, results in incomplete digestion.

So you either need to feed them more food, or more easily digested food.
There is no 'free lunch'; even for cows.

[beecee]

2 hours ago, MigL said:

Cows produce methane by the action of methanogenic microbes in their ore-stomach.
These microbes break down coarse plants and produce methane as part of pre-digestion.
Feeding the cows something that obstructs the methane producing  microbial action, results in incomplete digestion.

So you either need to feed them more food, or more easily digested food.
There is no 'free lunch'; even for cows.

Interesting and noted. But the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Orginization) is our top national science agency, so I would be surprised if this wasn/t already considered.

I also found this....

https://www.future-feed.com/how-it-works

"Asparagopsis seaweed is characterised by secondary metabolites with antibacterial properties and demonstrates a potent methane reduction effect in livestock digestive fermentation. Using low volumes (less than 1.0%) in a feedlot trial, methane was reduced by over 90% with positive trends observed for feed conversion and productivity.

The Asparagopsis species of seaweed produces special substances containing naturally occurring bromine (CHBr3) that prevents the completion of methane construction by reacting with vitamin B12 at the last step, which disrupts the enzymes used by the specific gut microbes that produce high energy methane gas as waste during digestion."

[MigL]

Thanks for the clarification, Beecee.

[J.C.MacSwell]

I wonder if it would work for an old fart such as myself?