Backpacks have been fitted to cows in Shropshire to help monitor how much methane they emit.
Tubes slowly suck in an air sample from a loop over each cow’s nose and mouth and feed it into backpacks which are changed every 24 hours.
Researchers at Harper Adams University College in Newport are carrying out the experiment on dairy cows at the site.
Professor Liam Sinclair from the college said the bulk of methane emitted by cows came “from the front end, not the back”.
Climate experts have said methane accelerates global warming. The researchers hope that as a result of the checks they will be able to reduce the amount of methane cows produce by changing their diets.
Reducing methane levels will also mean cows put more energy into producing milk
Dairy cows can produce up to 500 litres of methane per day, a gas which has a global warming potential much greater than that of carbon dioxide. Professor Sinclair said: “As well as being bad for the environment, this is also ineffective for farmers because it’s wasted energy that could be used to produce milk.
“So, we’re looking at different diets to reduce methane production and the backpacks monitor this by taking a sample of gas, from the front of the cow, for 24 hours.
“This means we know exactly how much methane a cow has produced and how this then relates to the different feeds.”
The cows wear backpacks for five days, after which they are given a different feed, given time to adjust, and then the packs are worn again to monitor the results.
Although the packs may look uncomfortable, the cows still behave as normal.
Professor Sinclair said: “The cows don’t seem bothered at all because they are happy to eat, ruminate and lie down.”
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