Measurement of methane emitted from cows

Scientists at Bristol University in collaboration with the Taegasc Research Center for Grassland and Animal Research in Israel have found a new way to measure methane emissions from cows and other ruminants. They also found a link between the production of methane and the levels of the archaeol compound in feces of some species such as sheep, cows and deer.

The compound could be developed into a biomarker to estimate methane gas produced by animals and wildlife, allowing scientists to more accurately assess the role of ruminants. to global greenhouse gas emissions. Cows, sheep and other ruminants are considered species that produce one-fifth of methane globally.

Currently, scientists are applying a method to measure the gas in the respiratory chamber to measure the amount of methane produced by animals. However, this method takes a lot of time and is not suitable for herbivores.Archaeol comes from organisms known as ancient bacteria - symbiotic bacteria , which live in the intestines of ruminants. These microorganisms produce methane as a byproduct of metabolic processes, then spread to the air through the process of bloating of animals.