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.

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[Support Free Republic]

Book her, Dano.
>	Support the finest site on the web. Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD- It is in the breaking news sidebar!

[RandallFlagg]

Hmmmm. Let's see....

Death by entrapment onboard the Moo-Fart Ship of Doom
Or,
Death by watching yet another episode of Oprah...

Decisions.....

[Paul Atreides]

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 same thing happens at a Democratic convention.

[CAPPSMADNESS]

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

[SwinneySwitch]

Hey PETA, over HERE!

[RLK]

In rural German the cure for a cold was thought to be to sleep in the stables where the ammonia would clear the nasal passages.

[squarebarb]

Pull my hoof!

[cavtrooper21]

I'm speechless....
Where is sungirl when you need her..
(oh, thats right, she "farted" herself to death too)
Moo-Hoo!

[SpaceBar]

I'm not a fan of PETA, and enjoy eating big juicy ribeye steaks as much as anyone, but this really does sound like routine animal cruelty all in the name to save a few bucks. Blame it on the farts and not the lack of proper ventilation that should be provided for livestock in transit.

[TheSpottedOwl]

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

How about better ventilation? How about hosing down the holding pens once in a while? Where the heck is PETA? <sarcasm

[honeygrl]

No air venting for the cows on the trip? Seems like even a fan would help and wouldn't be too hard to use.

[Atchafalaya]

God, could you imagine being the deckhand with that job. Man overboard!

[Kenny Bunk]

Check your spelling. I believe its Okrah.

The woman and the eponymous vegetable (or whatever it is) can both cause gastro-intestinal distress.

[shamusotoole]

I believe this article to be flawed in a different way. I am not a chemist, but I know that cow farts are not ammonia. Fermented cow urine (or even human) is. Some body who knows, please weigh in. This just doesn't smell right.

[cavtrooper21]

"farts" are a cobination of many gases, chiefly methane and carbon dioxide.
I would bet that it's a combination of heat, poor feed, little water, and the stench.
Any way you look at it its a "crappy" way to go...

[cavtrooper21]

"farts" are a cobination of many gases, chiefly methane and carbon dioxide.
I would bet that it's a combination of heat, poor feed, little water, and the stench.
Any way you look at it its a "crappy" way to go...

[Ditter]

Are the cattle shipped over seas for food or for breeding stock? If they are for food why don't they slaughter them first. The beef would be easier & cheaper to ship frozen than live cattle that have to be fed & watered.

[SauronOfMordor]

why don't they slaughter them first

Cattle have to be slaughtered a certain way to be Halal (Muslim equivalent of Kosher), so the Muslims tend to prefer doing it themselves than trust an infidel source