Rich’s WebWorld

Michael Abberton, a scientist at the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research believes changing the diet of dairy cattle can help reduce greenhouse gases that cause global warming. The problem is that cows belch 100 to 200 liters of methane a day. Methane is over 20 times more effective in trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

“There is a common misperception about how methane gets into the atmosphere,” he said. “It is actually through belching rather than the other end.”

His solution is to use modern plant-breeding techniques to produce feed that causes fewer belches. This is much like my technique of avoiding green peppers which causes me to belch — my contribution to reducing greenhouse emissions.

Abberton suggests feeding cattle a diet of legumes (such as clover and alfalfa) balanced with other foods and grasses that are more digestible. “What I’m saying is there are approaches within plant breeding that can lead to reduced emissions,” he said.

To do my part, the next time I order pizza, I will ask them to hold the anchovies AND green peppers.

– Rich Pulham