You might find it hard to believe that cow flatulence is one of the significant contributors to the severe pollution of our planet.
Many of us consider passing gas to be a trivial matter. However, the flatulence and burping of cows can have dire consequences for Earth as they produce substantial amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas that severely affects global climate. Now, scientists have discovered a way to address this seemingly trivial cause of global warming.
The waste and methane produced by livestock can contribute to global warming.
It may seem cruel and unusual to force a creature to stop its natural behaviors. However, it becomes more dangerous to allow methane from livestock to escape unchecked. It is estimated that each year, livestock such as cows, goats, and sheep produce about 100 million tons of methane through flatulence, burping, and excretion, accounting for approximately 20% of the global methane emissions. That’s an astonishing figure.
Scientists have found a solution to this issue without requiring livestock to become smarter. A few years ago, a research team discovered a little-known compound called 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP). This compound affects the digestion of animals. If a small amount of this compound is added to livestock feed, it can reduce methane emissions from these animals by up to 30%. In an article published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences, scientists explained why.
Through laboratory analysis, a group of biologists from the Spanish National Research Council uncovered the exact mechanism of action of 3-NOP. It directly targets and inhibits the activity of an enzyme that plays a crucial role in methane formation. This enzyme is produced by a group of microorganisms living in the rumen of the stomach. A small amount of 3-NOP can help block this enzyme.
20% of global methane emissions come from livestock farms.
The rumen is one of the four compartments of a cow’s stomach and plays a vital role in digestion. It is where bacteria and fungi work together to break down fibrous materials, tough foods, and process indigestible items like leaves and grasses that humans cannot digest. If preservatives disrupt the cow’s rumen, the issue could become severe not only for livestock but also for farmers.
To test the feasibility of this compound, the research team added 3-NOP to a group of intestinal bacteria in the laboratory. While the compound significantly inhibited the growth of methanogens, it did not have much effect on the cells of fungi and bacteria that help process and digest food.
In fact, adding 3-NOP to livestock feed could also benefit farmers. The methane emitted from livestock is a wasted energy source as part of the food they consume cannot be converted into body weight and escapes.
“We aim to improve and optimize the energy absorption in livestock. In fact, the methane released accounts for about 12% of the energy that animals absorb,” shared David Yanez, co-author of the study.
If one day you no longer smell the characteristic odors of livestock on your farm, don’t be too surprised. This is not only a way to keep your farm cleaner but also helps prevent Florida from being submerged by rising sea levels due to global warming.
