Cow burps to be measured to make farming ‘greener’

Cows will have their burps monitored, so that scientists can better understand how to reduce the carbon footprint on farms.

Researchers from Rothamsted Research, have built an innovative device that will measure exactly what is coming out of a cow’s mouth in Northwick, near Okehampton, Devon.

The latest findings will be analysed alongside the previous well-known evidence gathered around the methane given off by farting cows.

Professor Michael Lee, 43, said: ‘We give the animals a bolus, like a big tablet, which sits in the cow’s stomach and slowly releases a harmless gas and we let it graze normally for the next day.

‘During that time, a “breathalyser” headset collects a sample of the gases the cow breathes out and stores them. After 24 hours, we collect these gases and analyse them.’

The scientists say that although it is an impossible task to collect every breath a cow takes, they can monitor how much of the tracer gas the cow has breathed out, as well as the ‘proportion they have collected and hence the total amount of methane it has also released.’

They insist that the method is safe and doesn’t cause the cow any discomfort or harm.

The scientists hope to understand the factors that contribute to methane production, ‘such as the cow’s genes or what it is eating’.

It is claimed that farmers will be able to better determine the true carbon footprint on their farms as a result of the study.

A spokesperson from the research group added: ‘Basically, you fill a tube made out of an inert substance like stainless tell or Teflon with a tracer gas called sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).

‘This is a completely harmless gas, but we know the rate at which this gas diffuses from this tube.

‘You insert the tube into the cow’s rumen (first stomach) and then let it do its thing in the field for about 24hrs.

‘Close to the cow’s nostril is a tube which collects some of what the cow is breathing out.

‘These gases collect in the pipe round the neck. This will include methane and the SF6. After 24 hours, you measure the amount of these two gases that have been collected.’

The device is placed around the cow’s head like a crown, and includes a second pipe attached by electrical tape.

The team insists that the method used for collecting the gas, is a common technique and doesn’t harm the cows.