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Why cows should eat garlic British researchers have discovered a secret weapon to help combat global climate change: the humble garlic. And the way it works is to cut down on the farts and burps of cows. The world's cattle population emits vast amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas more than 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide, which comes out of both ends of a cow. As scientists started to look at the human-induced causes of global climate change, it became apparent flatulent cattle were significant contributors: while carbon dioxide made up nearly half of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, methane made up 18 percent. Of that, 30 percent came from the farts and burps of livestock, mainly from cattle. According to David Williams from Neem Biotech in the UK, the methane emissions equals "lost energy" for the cow, which could produce an extra 1.5 litres of milk a day if these emissions were reduced by just 20 percent. Speaking at a climate change and agribusiness conference in Somerset West on Wednesday, Williams said oils in the cow's diet could reduce the methane. His company, working with scientists from the University of Aberystwyth in Wales, screened more than 3 000 plant extracts. Of these, 10 had promise. "One turned out to be our secret weapon," he said. In their rumen simulator, they found that the garlic extract cut methane output by 94 percent. Not only that, but the garlic is an antibacterial, and so reduced the need for antibiotics, helped resistance to bovine TB, and killed intestinal worms. "The one question we're asked is 'will it taint the milk?' We can't answer that yet, but will be able to in about four weeks," Willams said. Meat and Climate change |