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Reporting on a UN study in 2006, the Independent reported:
‘Cow ’emissions’ more damaging to planet than CO2 from cars. Meet the world’s top destroyer of the environment. It is not the car, or the plane, or even George Bush: it is the cow. A United Nations report has identified the world’s rapidly growing herds of cattle as the greatest threat to the climate, forests and wildlife. And they are blamed for a host of other environmental crimes, from acid rain to the introduction of alien species, from producing deserts to creating dead zones in the oceans, from poisoning rivers and drinking water to destroying coral reefs.’
So, a Scottish study, announced today, which can lead to the breeding of ‘low-emission cattle’ is very big breakthrough indeed. Professor John Wallace will lead a study which is:
‘the result of a collaboration involving Scotland’s Rural College, The University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute and The University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute, identified a genetic link between host animals, the microbial community in their digestive tract and the methane that they produce. The findings could ultimately help farmers respond to the growing global demand for meat, while minimising the associated environmental impact.’
The team have won a prize of $5 000 to develop their breath-taking research. It seems a bit mean if it might save the planet.
Talking-up Scotland 
If it means that we are going to get genetically modified beef to eat, maybe we should just live with the methane – or go vegetarian and stop intensive farming of these poor animals.
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Veggie if my wife will agree
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Was the dotard who ignited the marsh gas blown off the photo? Or did the cow ignite It itself. . . . . Surely we should see the cow getting blown off its feet with an explosion like that.
Here’s the kicker, surely burning off the methane will reduce the effect on global warming. Kind off making the research pointless.
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Is that their plan. To burn it off?
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I had read that the second most important source of methane pollution is the flooding of paddy fields, so going veggie may be just as bad,
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