Australia has found an innovative solution to global warming: breed ‘green’ sheep that burp less. That’s right, burpless sheep.
It sounds like something you’d hear about on April 1st, but it’s November and the story is entirely true.
Forget planes, forget oil hungry America and most certainly forget those Chelsea tractors. Farting and burping sheep and cows are the real reason why we’ll all be sunning it in England very soon.
Joking aside, gasey livestock is a serious problem apparently.
According to Australia’s department of climate change, 16% of the country’s greenhouse emissions come from agriculture. And Australia’s Sheep Cooperative Research Council says 66% of agricultural emissions are released as methane from the the bellies of livestock.
New Zealand have a similar problem, where scientists estimate that a massive 43% of the country’s greenhouse gases come from livestock.
Globally, 28% of all methane resulting from human related activities comes from agriculture. Who would have thought that grass would have such a stomach rumbling effect, causing sheep and cows to burp and fart in symphony after each and every one of their meals??
Methane is considered the second most important gas produced by human activity after carbon dioxide, yet has far more impact on global warming than its much publicised cousin.
Scientists now believe that we have seriously underestimated the gas’ impact on global temperatures and that this is about a third higher than previously thought.
The Australian researchers in New South Wales are trying to discover the genetic link that means some sheep burp less than others and have been conducting experiments in special pens where they measure how much gas sheep emit when eating (not a job that had many volunteers I’m sure).
The problem is not a new one. It has already been a few years that scientists have been studying the problem and have been hoping to invent foods that reduce gassiness.
Anyway, if you think I’m making this all up, check out the incriminating evidence in this video. Very rude sheep indeed.
Lex
Hi all! Welcome to my blog. Hopefully you like what you read. I'll be pulling together stuff that I find interesting on the net about the environment and issues surrounding sustainable living so check in from time to time.
Seen to be Green 