Studies suggest that feeding fish oil can reduce methane emissions from cows

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According to the UK’s Daily Mail, British scientists stated at the annual meeting of the Society for General Microbiology that adding 2% fish oil to the feed of ruminants such as cows and sheep can significantly reduce methane emissions. 　　Each year, the world emits approximately 900 billion tons of methane, of which over 300 billion tons is produced by ruminants such as cows, sheep, and goats during their digestive process. These animals chew on ruminal food, and the bacteria in their stomachs break down the plant cellulose to release the energy contained within it; this process is known as anaerobic digestion, which takes place in an oxygen-free environment. The methane produced is mostly released through burping, and the carbon emissions equivalent to one ton of methane are equal to those of 72 tons of carbon dioxide. 　　Lorraine Leesley, a scientist at University College Dublin in Ireland, said: “Fish oil affects the bacteria that produce methane in cows’ intestines, thereby reducing methane emissions.” ” 　　The omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oil are also beneficial for the heart and circulatory system of livestock, and can improve the quality of the meat. Last edited by Welcome on 2009-4-5 11:53]