Monday, October 15, 2007

Killer cow emissions

Livestock are a leading source of greenhouse gases. Why isn't anyone raising a stink?
Opinion from the Los Angeles Times:

It's a silent but deadly source of greenhouse gases that contributes more to global warming than the entire world transportation sector, yet politicians almost never discuss it, and environmental lobbyists and other green activist groups seem unaware of its existence.

That may be because it's tough to take cow flatulence seriously. But livestock emissions are no joke.

Most of the national debate about global warming centers on carbon dioxide, the world's most abundant greenhouse gas, and its major sources -- fossil fuels. Seldom mentioned is that cows and other ruminants, such as sheep and goats, are walking gas factories that take in fodder and put out methane and nitrous oxide, two greenhouse gases that are far more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide. Methane, with 21 times the warming potential of CO2, comes from both ends of a cow, but mostly the front. Frat boys have nothing on bovines, as it's estimated that a single cow can belch out anywhere from 25 to 130 gallons of methane a day....Much More

And where, you ask, is Fat Knowledge when we have cow blomp ink in a major U.S. Daily?
Glad to see there is lots of interest in gut bacteria research these days.
From his post Gut Bacteria Explain Chocolate Cravings