Ill wind blows for cattle export (Cows bound for Mideast fart themselves to death)

News.com.au ^ | 7.16.03 | Joel Dullroy

[mhking]

FLATULENCE is responsible for the death of hundreds of cattle exported to the Middle East each year.

Cows gas themselves to death by emitting fatally high levels of ammonia during the lengthy voyages, a University of New England conference has heard.

The exact reason for high fatality rates on cattle export voyages had eluded scientists until now, the university said.

Researcher Jeisana Accioly said the cows' high protein diets were the cause of the problem.

Voyages to the Middle East can take between 13 and 31 days.

Temperatures on board can soar dramatically as the ship crosses the Equator, leading to high levels of ammonia production.

In the cramped, hot and poorly ventilated cattle holds, ammonia gas can quickly cause respiratory problems and death.

Cattle deaths came under scrutiny last year when the Federal Government banned the shipment of certain breeds, after the death of 900 cows on one voyage.

Animal welfare lobby groups suggested the sudden transition from cold to hot climates was responsible. But Ms Accioly said cattle deaths could be reduced by simply altering the animals' diet.

"Nutrition that is appropriate to the extreme conditions is the answer to this serious problem," she said.

"It can be as simple as increasing the roughage in the diet with something like hay, decreasing protein and ensuring higher levels of qualified nutrient monitoring."

UNE is hosting the bi-annual Recent Advantages in Animal Nutrition in Australia conference at its Armidale campus.

The conference also heard that changing egg-laying chickens' diet can lower the rate of cannibalism.

Associate Professor Mingan Choct said cannibalism was a major problem for the egg production industry.

A producer can lose up to 40 per cent of chickens due to cannibalism, but the problem can be lessened by reducing the level of highly processed feed and by increasing the level of salt in their diet, the conference heard.

[Ditter]

OK That explains it. Thanks. They are not getting as much for their money because the cattle would lose weight during the trip & then would have to be fattened up again.

[gorush]

"aha!!! Now I have the proof!!! I've told the hubby for years that one day he would fart himself to death!!! "

Now, now...a little ventilation will cure both of these problems.

[MomwithHope]

I think you are right it would be from the ammonia in the urine. We have dairy goats and that is one nasty smell. Now a goat fart......no problem, our "girls " get a high protein diet and theirs don't even smell bad, and they hardly ever fart anyway. But the DO produce a lot of urine. Good catch!

[manic4organic]

LMAO! Moo-Fart ship of doom? LOLOLOLOL

[autoresponder]

======================
let's hear it for flatulence!
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[autoresponder]

For Muslims?

Load them thar critters up with Norplant and thet thar stuff we used to neuter chickens into capons!

[Terriergal]

bwaaaahahaha!

But on a serious note, it makes sense to improve conditions keep the cows alive, from a business point of view. Spoiled meat doesn't bring in much cash.

[Catspaw]

The problem is too many cows in too little space--along with little ventilation and not cleaning the stalls. They factor in the losses in the shipments.

[misanthrope]

Never much cared to fart on a ship.

An Airtran 727 at 30,000ft, now that's another matter!!

[Terriergal]

Oh I know. But one would think that it would make more sense just to not *ship* X number of cows, if they're going to die anyway. Wouldn't it cost less to ship less cows?

[Catspaw]

Premium cattle get shipped with TLC--for example, cows with stellar production/high butterfat or bulls (if there's starting a "bull farm" for semen production). Herd cattle--that's another matter.

[Terriergal]

I suppose. :-\