Environment

Could a New Type of Feed Reduce Methane in Cow Burps?

A research team is looking for new feed options to reduce methane in cow burps, aiming to curb greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against global warming.

Published

1 year ago

March 1, 2023

Shunichi Takahashi

Measuring the amount of methane in the breath of cows at the Hokkaido Research Organization's Dairy Research Center, Nakashibetsu Town, Hokkaido (Photo courtesy of the Hokkaido Research Organization's Dairy Research Center).

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A research group led by Professor Yasuo Kobayashi of the Graduate School of Agriculture at Hokkaido University is looking into ways to reduce methane in cow burps. Methane, a greenhouse gas, is released by microorganisms in the stomach as they break down grass and other feed. The gas is considered to be a signficant factor in global warming.

If a type of feed that suppresses methane production could be discovered, sensors in the stomach and artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to effectively monitor feeding. The research team aims to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050.

Methane from Cow Burps

Cows have four stomachs that digest the fiber in grass to derive nutrients. They are helped by about 7,000 different microorganisms.

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(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: The Sankei Shimbun