Garlic 'may cut cow flatulence' (new way to fight global warming?)

BBC News ^ | 07/10/07

[TigerLikesRooster]

Garlic 'may cut cow flatulence'

Pull the udder one - cows can produce 500 litres of gas a day

Scientists in Wales tackling the impact flatulent cows and sheep have on global warming may have an answer - putting garlic in their food.

Experts claim cows are responsible for about 3% of Britain's greenhouse gases.

But initial results from the start of the three-year study show that feed containing garlic could cut the amount of gas produced by up to 50%.

The Aberystwyth research team is testing if this taints milk or meat - and gives the animals bad breath.

The study is being led by scientists at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, alongside colleagues at Bangor and Reading universities.

In Aberystwyth, researchers are measuring the amount of methane and nitrogen produced by sheep by housing them in a plastic portable tent.

Project leader Professor Jamie Newbold said new types of feed from plant extracts, and grass with a higher sugar content, were being developed to help solve the problem.

Garlic directly attacks the organisms in the gut that produce methane Prof Jamie Newbold

"Initial results show that extracts of garlic compound could reduce the amount of methane produced by the animals by 50%," he said.

"Garlic directly attacks the organisms in the gut that produce methane."

He added that tests were also being carried out to see if the garlic gave the animals bad breath and more specifically if it could taint milk or meat.

But he joked that this might be "good for the French market".

Experts consider cows the biggest single source of methane - a gas 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to global warming.

The average dairy cow is capable of producing up to 500 litres of the gas every day, mostly through belching.

Reduce that, claim the experts, and farming could not only be made greener and more efficient, but it could also help Britain achieve its commitments under the Kyoto agreement.

Gas produced by sheep is also being measured

A spokeswoman for the Department for Food, the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) said recent research suggested that "substantial methane reductions" could be achieved by changes to animals' feed.

Prof Newbold explained that cattle and sheep were responsible for about 30% of methane emissions in the UK.

In Wales, they produced nearly double that - which amounts to 5% of Wales's greenhouse gases.

He said the work commissioned by Defra, worth some £750,000, had unified a number of schemes looking into flatulent animals.

The project also involves Aberystwyth's Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research and environmental specialists Adas.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Nervous Tick]

I’d hate to be the “new guy” on this project. *Someone* has to go into that tent and sniff that cow’s breath and lift that tail and... well, you get the picture.

[Bob]

The Aberystwyth research team is testing if this taints milk or meat - and gives the animals bad breath.

WTF, O? Why would anyone, other than another cow of course, care if a cow gets bad breath from the feed?

[doc1019]

I don’t know how garlic works on cows, but my wife will attest, garlic in my food ends up making her eyes water after the fact (so to speak). Good luck with the cows.

[TheBattman]

Pre-seasoned Beef and milk....

[Grizzled Bear]

Only Liberal Moonbats would want to create a cow with garlic breath.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Don’t you think this is starting the marinade a little early?

[vox humana]

Just when you think the global warming fanatics can’t come up with an even more ridiculous idea....

[TigerLikesRooster]

New fad:

Eat garlic beef, along with garlic bread

[TASMANIANRED]

Beano would not taint the milk.

[StormEye]

It’s difficult to believe, and also hilarious, that the global warming fanatics are actually testing cow and sheep farts in an attempt to prove that these animals contribute to global warming. Incredible. If only those people could see how stupid they look and sound to the rest of us.

[Let's Roll]

Aren’t buffalo (American bison) also ruminants - like cows?

So they must fart too?

And didn’t there used to be millions of them in North America?

So we must conclude that only the presence of white men make ruminant methane harmful.

And what about the deer population that now numbers in the millions in NA? They’re ruminants too. So they must be responsible for even more damage than killing motorists, destroying gardens, crops, flowers, shrubs etc.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

“The average dairy cow is capable of producing up to 500 litres of the gas (methane) every day, mostly through belching.”

---

Just think: 125 gallons of methane a day, harnessed properly, could cut petro dependency...

Can we train these cattle to exhale into a carburetor?

Like NASCAR, but now with added MILK!

[TigerLikesRooster]

Well, more likely, before they check on buffalos and deers, they will first check the entire human population and issue daily flatulence quota for each person. Anybody exceeding it has to pay a fine which costs more than a parking ticket. If you have illness which generates unusual amount of flatulence, you have to get special note from your doctor and submit it to a local flatulence control office.

[freekitty]

Why don’t we just take all of the alledged experts and feed them garlic.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Daytona Cow-Methane 500?

[TigerLikesRooster]

I suppose it will cut down their flatulence.:-)

[incredulous joe]

this stuff is just disturbing

these global warming freaks are off the res

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Exactly!

And in Italy...

(brace yourself)

(seriously)

(this is really bad)

...the Moo-ly Miglia.

(the 1000 mile Mille Miglia race)

And the other 1000 mile race, the one that is run in...

...Baja Cowafornia

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

I think a better use of the garlic, with regards to the alleged experts, is to WEAR IT AROUND OUR NECKS....

[rmlew]

Add some soy, mustard, and pepper and we are in business!

[AZLiberty]

Scientists in Wales tackling the impact flatulent cows and sheep have on global warming may have an answer - putting garlic in their food.

But then Wales would smell like France.

Reminds me of an old joke, told by a Brit: Scientists in Wales have discovered two new uses for sheep. Meat and wool.

[mazza]

Indeed, If they would, at least, PROVE IT FIRST! This is incremental and guess who is going to foot the bill when the moonbats in our own gov’t decide to ‘get green’?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

We'll all thank algore when all of our ice cream tastes like Barbara's -- without the garlic cloves...

Barbara's Holiday Garlic Ice Cream

Ingredients:

•  1 1/2 tsp Gelatin
•  1/4 cup cold water
•  2 cups milk
•  3/4-1 cup sugar
•  2 tblsp lemon juice
•  2 cloves garlic, minced
•  2 cups whipping cream
•  Strawberry topping (or other fruit)

[Poincare]

Amazing thing to find out that cows have nuclear fusion furnaces inside them where they manufacture carbon. I always thought that they got Carbon from the grass and such that they ate which used Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere in photosysthesis.

[metmom]

As long as the garlic doesn’t come from China, the cows should be OK.

Garlic flavored milk? Excuse me while I go puke.......

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

What about moose? They’re ruminants too. Frankly, I find it disturbing that nobody has made this connection. Is this the 800 lb gorilla in the room?

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl

[DakotaRed]

Why not ban all the Taco places cropping up around the country? Stop feeding so many people those refried beans and cut flatulence in humans as well.

Now, watch some nutty liberal go “yeah!”

[afnamvet]

Cows and sheep could benefit from Metamucil.

[Redcloak]

While they’re at it, they could add some rosemary, black pepper, and oregano too.

[SatinDoll]

A nursing mother who eats garlic ends up with garlic flavored breast milk. I would suppose the same would go for lactating cattle. Not a beneficial thing for the dairy industry, I imagine.

[Cobra64]

[Cobra64]

It’s difficult to believe, and also hilarious, that the global warming fanatics are actually testing cow and sheep farts in an attempt to prove that these animals contribute to global warming. Incredible. If only those people could see how stupid they look and sound to the rest of us.

You see these signs all over San Francisco.

[dalereed]

Bring back a brand of beans that was around in the 30s and 40s, Fentons Fartless Frejoles.

[A CA Guy]

I wasn’t going to be around my fiance the other day, so I had a big container filled with heavily spicy garlic chicken.
I belched garlic heavily for hours.

Don’t know how it would help, but it sure won’t enhance your love life.

[depenzz]

Take it from an ole (ex) farmer, the milk is going to smell and taste like garlic.

They don't have to spend a penny to find this out.....just wait until the cows are turned out to pasture in the spring and they get into a patch of garlic while brunching.

[twonie]

I know! We can just have another “Save the Earth” marathon rock concert, but this time we will have all known livestock on earth watch it. This will, I am sure, do exactly as much good as the first concert did.

[twonie]

With all the lifestock that was in North America ( and presumably farting away at will) before we got here, the global tempberatures must have been at least 500 degrees at all times. We should just ban beer - now THERE is a major source of farts!

[twonie]

Been to Deming lately, have you!!

[Sacajaweau]

Great...because you know damn well that your milk will taste different.

[Sacajaweau]

The release of methane from the oceans surpasses cow f**** by a long shot. Man, scientists can be real idiots.

By the way, my aunt gave me tea with bayleaf for gas pains. It worked. It gobbled those bubbles up.

[gimme1ibertee]

Picking another lemon from the stupid tree.
Another diamond comes from the stupid mine.
The stupid train pulls into the station once again.
More grist for the stupid mill.
I see stupid people...they’re everywhere.
Pushing the edge of the stupid envelope.
Going beyond the realm of stupid as we know it today.
Add-ons......?

[Sacajaweau]

Ban cabbage...and apples...

[reagan_fanatic]

[cow flatulence]

Larry: Excellent

[cow flatulence]

Larry: Very interesting. Methane levels standard positive.

[Carl knocks at door and enters]

Carl: Larry, your wife’s here to see you.

Larry: What? Not now, Carl. I’m very busy.

Carl: I think she’s coming in right now, man.

[Debbie enters]

Larry: Debbie, what’re you doing here?!

Debbie: Larry, we have to talk.

Larry: I can’t talk now. I thought I made it very clear: I cannot be bothered at work. My work is too important.

[cow flatulence]

Debbie: It’s not too important for what I have to say to you.

Larry: This can’t wait?

Debbie: No, it cannot. I’m leaving you, Larry.

[cow flatulence]

Larry: That’s just great. I just missed an emissions reading. Great.

Debbie: Are you listening to me?! It’s over, Larry!

Larry: You would leave me now, when I’m so close to finishing my work?

[cow flatulence]

Debbie: Your work? Larry, your work is a joke!

Larry: I will not stand for that. My work is not a joke.

[cow flatulence]

Debbie: Do you know what it’s like to have to tell all my friends that my husband sits around in a room full of cow asses and waits for them to fart?

Larry: If they were educated, they would know that methane gases from livestock are affecting our climate. The Earth’s temperature is rising This is serious stuff.

[cow flatulence]

Debbie: You study farts.

Larry: My work has nothing to do with farts.

[cow flatulence]

Debbie: You were saying?

Larry: I don’t study farts.

[cow flatulence]

Larry: I study climate changes due to ozone loss. I am a scientist.

[cow flatulence]

Larry: Debbie, I know this hasn’t been easy for you.

Debbie: It hasn’t! It just hasn’t! [turns away and weeps] I can’t take it anymore!

Larry: It’s only a year. Maybe three. You could just hang on.

Debbie: But I’m pregnant.

[cow flatulence]

Debbie: Oh, Larry, it’s no use!

Larry: You’re gonna have a baby? Don’t you see? This changes everything!

Debbie: You would leave all this?

Larry: Well, let me think about this. Can I in good conscience leave this work?

[Larry looks into the distance pensively while Debbie looks at him imploringly and cow flatulence continues to sound]

Larry: I’ve thought it over.

Debbie: And?

Larry: I love you, Debbie.

[cow flatulence]

Debbie: Oh, Larry. I love you!

[cow flatulence]

Larry: I’ve been a fool! This whole time, worrying day and night about methane, cow farts, thinking the world was in danger. The world wasn’t in danger; it was me. I say goodbye to this. I choose life.

Debbie: I choose it with you, Larry.

Larry: Cow farts. What a waste of time.

[cow flatulence]

[dissolve to the Earth as seen from outer space]

Larry: [voice over] Whooooo! This water-skiing sure is fun, Debbie!

Debbie: [voice over] Be careful, honey.

Larry: [voice over] Oh, I will. Boy, it sure is hot today.

Debbie: [voice over] It sure is. Really hot.

[cow flatulence sounds and the Earth bursts into flames]

Voice Over: It’s no joke. Support ozone research. Brought to you by the Center for Cow Fart Study. [logo and title: “CENTER for COW FART STUDY”] [aside] That’s the name you’re going with?

[Old Professer]

“In Aberystwyth, researchers are measuring the amount of methane and nitrogen produced by sheep by housing them in a plastic portable tent.”

Brings back memories of camping; beans, sauerkraut, and closed flaps.

Hope they don’t smother.

[ErnBatavia]

Flatulence Pingy-Dingy!

[Sacajaweau]

Ah, for the days when a f*** was a fun thing...Now, it's a serious business.

Under Hillary's plan, will the school children be served "garlic" instead of milk? Of course, we all know that most of our garlic comes from China.

[thebaron512]

You might want to stand away when I hit the garlic at the local chinese buffet! More the merrier! I like the idea of pre-spiced meat ;)