Fighting Cow Methane at the Source: Their Food

July 8th, 2008- Discover Magazine
"While many cattle are stuffed full of grain, grass-fed cattle have been heralded as a greener way to get beef because it diminishes the need to feed the animals antibiotics and has a smaller carbon footprint, not to mention that it yields beef with less saturated fat. Those of us lucky (or wealthy) enough to feast on grass-fed beef can rest easy knowing we have taken a step toward protecting planet Earth—or so we thought. It turns out there’s a hitch: Cow burps, which send methane into the atmosphere, may increase global warming..."

(http://discovermagazine.com/2008/aug/08-fighting-cow-methane-at-the-source)

Amber says: Okay, so Im all about being green and saving the world and making a better earth for future generations and all of that... but... Come on. Seriously?? Genetically modifying GRASS to cut down on COW BURPS?? Are you kidding me? First of all, its a burp. A stinkin' burp. Cows, Cats, Horses, People... we ALL burp. Ever heard of that book "Everybody Poops"? I think that the people running these studies should read it, if they havent already. And if they have, I think they need to study it a little more. If you are going to join the fight against the massive carbon foot print, at least do it in a way that is going to do some good.

Secondly, Id think that spending time and money on genetically modifying grass to feed these already too expensive grass-fed cows is going to push the cost of food (and everything else!) up even higher. Put the money into a contraption that works like an air purifier, and purify the air- that would get rid of the cow methane and all of the other bad stuff that is floating around.

Third, didnt they do some study in California a while ago to test and see if cows actually put enough methane into the atmosphere to matter? And didnt they figure out that it didnt really make a difference?

Okay, I think Im done ranting.