March 30, 2011

UK dairy farmers change cow's diet to lessen global warming

The UK dairy industry has introduced linseed to the cattle's diet to to make them burp less and help reduce the methane emissions.

The belching of cows produces methane, one of the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. Sir Paul McCartney, the economist Lord Stern and other environmental campaigners have even suggested people should eat fewer meat and dairy products to combat the problem.

Feeding cows linseed can reduce the amount of methane produced by up to 40%, according to studies presented at the 2010 annual conference of the British Society of Animal Science.

The linseed encourages the growth of "good" bacteria in the cow's stomach while rejecting the type of bacteria that produces methane.

Linseed, sold in health food shops to aid human digestion, is from a blue flower grown in the British countryside. It contains Omega 3, a fatty acid that is essential to normal growth and health.

More than 100 dairy farms, with 30,000 cows, are now adding linseed to cattle feed as part of an industry–wide plan to bring down emissions from cows. The Government has committed to cutting greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050, including the emissions from agriculture.

Linseed produced in the UK can also help farmers reduce dependency on imported feed like genetically modified soy or wheat, which is rising in price.

David Tory, a dairy farmer from Dorset, said the linseed was improving the health of his cows. "It's clear the feed is having a positive effect. They've got what we in the industry call 'shine' and there appears to be a clear yield benefit – both signs that they're healthy and happy, he said.

"The reduction in methane emissions is a massive bonus and something we take very seriously. We work with nature every day and I'm very passionate about the conservation aspect. It's a win–win," Tory added.