Cows also cause a greenhouse effect

Scientists have found an important way to measure and refrain from the release of methane emissions, causing the greenhouse effect generated by cows and other ruminants.

Science Daily quoted Bristol University researchers and the Teagasc Grazing and Animal Research Center in Ireland as saying they found an association between the amount of methane and archaeol (di-O-phytanylglycerol) present in feces of some animals have intestinal fermentation such as cows, sheep and deer.

The waste of some ruminants emits a large amount of methane causing the greenhouse effect.

The compound can be used as a biomarker to estimate the amount of methane produced by cattle and wildlife, allowing scientists to more accurately assess the potential to increase greenhouse gas emissions. caused by ruminants.

Co-author Fiona Gill, a postdoctoral intern at the University of Bristol, said: 'The way of calculating methane due to animal effects, especially ruminants today has limitations. If we can find a simple biomarker to measure the amount of methane generated from animal manure, use it along with information on diet and the number of cattle in the herd to estimate the total methane they are global . '

Cows, sheep and other ruminants are thought to be responsible for about 1 in 5 of the total global mentan gas but it is difficult to prove quantitative. People often measure methane by using respiratory chambers, but are complex and unsuitable for herbivores.

Archaeol is a group of archae living in the intestines of ruminants, producing methane as a byproduct of metabolism and escaping into the atmosphere when animals are neutral.

The main researcher, Dr. Lan Bull, Department of Chemistry at Bristol University said: ' We initially discovered archaeol in the feces of some animals with fermentation in the gut such as camels, cows, giraffes, sheeps. and llamas. We then extended the study to assess the amount of this compound in cow dung with different diets. Two groups of cows were fed with different regimes and then measured the amount of methane produced and the amount of archaeol in the stool ".

" The cattle grazing on grazing fields produce more methane and more archaeol than the group that only eats silage with more concentrated additives. This confirms the diet of the family. cattle is an important way to control methane emissions '.