Researchers Want to Breed Cows That Don't Burp

Methane is really bad for the environment, and cattle are responsible for releasing whopping amounts of it into the atmosphere.

Unlike various industries, cows can't really help producing this greenhouse gas. This is because the methane forms inside their stomachs whenever the animals digest their food.

Since no cow feels comfortable with methane trapped inside its body, the animals simply burp it out.

A team of researchers now hope that, with the help of selective breeding, they will manage to produce cattle that know their manners and do not burp all that often.

They also say that such cows would burn less energy than the ones currently raised by farmers, and would therefore require less amounts of food.

As Professor John Wallace put it, “Methane production represents a waste of feed energy, varying between two and ten percent of total energy consumed by an animal.”

“Methane production is important for cattle and sheep farmers because if the amount of methane produced can be lowered then there are benefits for the environment, production, and profitability.”