Burping and farting, such normal bodily functions, yet cows are not allowed to freely indulge in these two activities!
Scientists worldwide are striving to "create" cows that burp and fart less.
To achieve this goal, various methods and strategies are being employed.
Fart Collector
As early as 2016, scientists proposed adding seaweed to cows' food to reduce their flatulence and burping.
In 2023, a company under Bill Gates' name invested over $17 million in a project aimed at reducing cow emissions.
Also in 2023, researchers suggested that kangaroo babies' feces could help reduce emissions.
During this time, other scientists explored vaccines, selective breeding, and even genetic engineering in an attempt to address this issue.
What's the deal with cows? Why are humans trying to limit their burping and farting frequency?
Every time you burp, you're contributing to global warming.
As we all know, cows are incredibly cost-effective animals. They eat grass, produce milk, and can also be a source of meat for humans.
The reason cows can turn plants into milk is thanks to the microbes in their stomachs. These microbes efficiently process the grass the cows eat, synthesizing nutrients used for milk and meat production, but they also produce a byproduct: methane.
Methane is a notorious greenhouse gas.
Research shows that since the Industrial Revolution, methane levels in the atmosphere have more than doubled. Today, about 20% of global warming can be attributed to methane.
Preceding methane is carbon dioxide, which contributes 75% to global warming.
Although methane in the atmosphere is not as abundant as carbon dioxide, its ability to trap heat is about 28 times greater, making methane a key factor in controlling global warming.
Cows make a significant contribution to methane emissions. In 2020, global human activities emitted a substantial amount of methane, with livestock farming being a major source, accounting for as much as 30%, second only to fossil fuel use at 33%. Among livestock, cows are the top methane producers, with each cow emitting over 100,000 liters per year. Considering there are an estimated 1.5 billion cows worldwide, the collective impact is substantial.
Many people may be surprised: do cows really emit so much methane?
In 2008, Argentine scientists tested the gas emissions of cows by attaching a plastic barrel (fart backpack) to their backs, with a tube leading directly to their stomachs to collect the gas.
The results showed that a 550-kilogram cow can emit 800-1000 liters of gas per day, from which 300 liters of methane gas can be extracted (with some producing up to 500 liters).
Researchers stated that 300 liters of methane, when converted into energy, is enough to power a car for 24 hours.
Contrary to popular belief, 97% of this methane gas is released through burping, with only a small amount being expelled through flatulence.
How can we create eco-friendly cows?
Due to the above reasons, scientists have labeled cows with lower emissions as eco-friendly cows and have tried various methods, but with limited success.
Scientists found that only 3% of the microbes in a cow's body produce methane, originating from an ancient bacterial community. By inhibiting the growth of these bacteria, methane production can be effectively reduced.
In 2016, Australian scientists proposed that adding a type of seaweed called Asparagopsis to livestock feed could reduce methane emissions.
In experiments with artificial cow stomachs, methane production decreased by 99% when red seaweed was added. This method also proved effective for sheep, reducing their methane emissions by 70%.
While this approach is effective, it is not a long-term solution. Once the special seaweed is no longer included in the diet, methane levels bounce back. Moreover, the sheer number of cows worldwide would require an impractical amount of seaweed to sustain.
Scientists proposed developing a vaccine for cows to suppress methane-producing microbes. However, due to the vast variety of microbes in cows, the effectiveness of the vaccine was limited, and this approach was not widely adopted.
In February 2023, scientists at Washington State University in the United States suggested feeding cows kangaroo feces. According to their research, kangaroo feces contain special microbes that can replace methane-producing microbes, coexist with cows, and ultimately produce acetic acid instead of methane.
While the experimental results were promising, this approach has not yet been implemented in cows.
In June 2023, a Canadian company introduced a new solution: genetic modification and selective breeding.
The first batch of genetically modified bull semen with low methane traits has been released to the market, with some farmers purchasing it.
While many believe that the diversity of microbial colonies in cows is mainly related to their diet, genetics also play a role in shaping these microbial communities.
By altering the genes of cows and their internal microbes to create cattle with low methane characteristics, and then selectively breeding them, these cows can be promoted.
According to the company's claims, selectively bred cows exhibit no difference in milk quality, growth, and development compared to regular cows, while also reducing methane emissions by 1.5% annually. It is estimated that emissions will be reduced by at least 20% by 2050.
However, some scientists question the impact of genetic modification on the growth and development of cows. This approach has not yet gained full acceptance and is only available for sale in 80 countries.
In the end
Overall, scientists are going to great lengths to reduce cows' flatulence and burping.
At first glance, this may seem like a showcase of technological advancement, but upon closer inspection, it appears that cows have become mere puppets.
One netizen's comment is quite intriguing:
"Global warming is not about cows, but about humans. With so many people, if we want to drink milk and eat meat, we have to raise a lot of cows. As a result, in the end, we only want the cows to change. Cement production generates so many greenhouse gases, yet no one is stopping it. Driving cars and burning gasoline also produce a large amount of harmful gases, but no one mentions that. Aren't cows' contributions to humanity significant enough?"
