January 24, 2008

Swedish researchers look into methane content in cow burps

The Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala will measure the greenhouse gases released when cows belch.

The university has recently received a government grant of US$590,000 to study about 20 cows which will have different diets and wear collar devices measuring the methane level in the air around them.

Project leader, Jan Bertilssonhe, said that ninety-five percent of the methane released by cows comes out through the mouth,

Bertilssonhe also pointed that similar studies are currently conducted in Canada, thus the Swedish group will keep a close contact with Canadian agricultural researchers.