Weren't they trying to cut down methane emissions not carbon emissions?
Also, the common misconception is that the majority of methane comes from the cow's rear end, whereas in truth ninety-five percent of the methane comes out of the cow's mouth.
.... Methane warms the planet 20 times more than carbon dioxide. A ruminant animal creates methane when it digests food in its rumen — a part of its digestive system that works like a fermentation tank.
The rumen is overrun with about 400 kinds of microbes, which break down whatever the animal eats. One of these microbes specializes in making methane.
"And that methane, then, is either burped out or it gets absorbed into the bloodstream, and then breathed out through the lungs," Clark explains.
Ninety-five percent of the methane comes out of the animal's mouth, going up into the atmosphere, and warming the climate.
Scientists suggest that putting a stop to the gas problem could be as simple as getting rid of the microbes. Harry Clark's colleague, Ron Reimus, says they can't see any reason to keep those methane microbes.
"We feel that because they're not absolutely required for survival, that you could get rid of them," Reimus says.
One strategy used is to genetically engineer the microbes so they won't make methane. Another is to give the sheep and cows some type of feed that the bugs won't like.
Graeme Maybey runs a 500-acre dairy farm of 350 cows in Woodville, located along the north island of New Zealand. ...
taken from.. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11170158
Then there's....
Belching cows: Giant pills to counteract the greenhouse effect
It was not that long ago that the idea of belching cows being a major factor in global warming was sniggered at. The finding that there are many factors that might be responsible for global warming is gaining ground. Apart from soil gas, power stations, traffic, industrial and household pollution, cows’ methane emissions are also a significant contributory factor to the global greenhouse gas budget. Belching cows as a major contributory factor to climate change is no longer sniggered at – in particular in the EU where huge amounts of milk are produced. Ruminating leads to the production of methane - the greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. “Estimates suggest that the methane concentration in the atmosphere has increased almost six-fold over the last 50 years and is responsible for approximately 20% of the greenhouse effect,” said Prof. Dr. Winfried Drochner from the Institute of Animal Nutrition at the University of Hohenheim. With a special diet, modified feeding times and a plant-derived bolus (giant pill) introduced into the gastroesophageal vestibule, Prof. Drochner hopes to achieve three things: reduced costs, reduced greenhouse gases and simultaneously an increased well-being of the animals. A small belch is pure methane Cows as methane producers (Photo: Cows as methane producers (Photo: "obs/Kleinwalsertal Tourismus") Spiegel.de, the online edition of the German magazine Der Spiegel, quoted the Republican Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner’s mocking question as to whether it was now necessary to equip cows’ behinds with catalysts. “First, the cows emit the methane gas through their mouth and not from their backsides; and second, a giant pill would be sufficient to counteract the cows’ methane emission,” said Prof. Dr. Drochner calling for across-the-board responsible action. “In animal husbandry, we potentially also have ways of counteracting global warming,” continued Prof. Dr. Drochner.
Dairy cows are one of the major sources of methane and account for approximately four percent of all factors contributing to climate change, and this effect is on the increase. All over the world, meat consumption by the new middle class in threshold countries is growing. The parents of this new middle class still belonged to a generation that could not afford to buy steaks. “This development cannot be prevented, but we can reduce the contribution made by cows to the greenhouse effect with new methods. It can be reduced to approximately 3% and we will also make cost savings,” estimates Prof. Dr. Drochner.
"Methane production by dairy cows is a purely natural process. The greenhouse gas binds hydrogen, a waste product that is generated when the cows digest grass. This microbial degradation is called fermentation and is vital for ruminant animals,” said Prof. Dr. Drochner. Tannins to counteract climate change Prof. Drochner has now found out that the cows’ diet could be improved by adding germ buds or extracts thereof. “Germ buds contain substances that are able to reduce methane generation and enable cows to better utilise feed. “Instead of warming up the climate, the animals would use the feed effectively and help reduce costs for farmers.”
Tannins are miracle substances that Prof. Drochner would like to produce directly from plants and administer to cows either directly or pressed. “A fist-sized giant pill known as a bolus, consisting of microbially active substances would then remain in the cows’ stomachs for several months, slowly dissolving and gradually reducing methane emission,” said Prof. Dr. Drochner. “This would be the most practical and simple way of administering such effective substances, even in areas with extensive livestock husbandry.”
There are other options available in areas of intensive animal husbandry, for example by including more fats in animal feed and by following a more constant feeding pattern throughout the day. “Animals that chew and digest continuously improve their own metabolism. Humans are more or less the same: several small portions of food per day are much more healthy for the organism,” said Prof. Dr. Drochner.
However, in terms of efficiency the most important new measure is the development of the bolus, said Prof. Drochner. “We are looking for sponsors to help us develop it.” Since the giant pill not only protects the climate, but is also interesting from an economic point of view, Drochner is hopeful that he will be able to find a sponsor in the near future.
