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Cow farts and climate change: There's a real connection, scientists say

Cows have four stomachs, and their burps and other "emissions" are not good for the atmosphere.

Cow farts and climate change: There's a real connection, scientists say

Cows have four stomachs, and their burps and other "emissions" are not good for the atmosphere.

WEBVTT JIM: YOU TRY DOING A SERIOUSSTORY ABOUT COW FARTS AND COWBURPS, BUT IT IS A REAL PROBLEM.SCIENTISTS SAY THE COW EMISSIONSPRODUCING METHANE GAS IT'SHURTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEYSAY IT IS ALSO CONTRIBUTING TOCLIMATE CHANGE.>IT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE MUCH BUTTHAT WAS A COW BURP LIVESTOCKPARITUCLARLY COWS PRODUCE ANEXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OFGREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS25-TIMES GREATER THAN CARBONDIOXIDE.>> WE ARE TRYING TO COMBAT THATNEGATIVE IMPACTS OF ANIMALAGRICULTURE ON THE ENVIRONMENT.JIM: THIS BECAUSE A COW HAS 4STOMACHS.HERE ON THE FARM RESEARCHERS ATWOLFE'S NECK IN FREEPORT ARESTUYDING WAYS TO REDUCE COWEMISSIONS TO HELP SAVE THEPLANET.MUCH OF IT REVOLVES AROUNDALTERING THE COW'S DIET.>> THE SEAWEED WOULD BE A SMALLPORTION OF THE ANIMAL'S DIET.JIM: THAT'S RIGHT THEY'RETALKING ABOUT FEEDING COWSSEAWEED.SCIENTIST ACROSS THE WORLD AREALREADY ON-IT, TESTING SEAWEEDSOF ALL KINDS.>> WITH OTHER SPECIES OFSEAWEED.THEY USE MORE OF THE RED SEALEADS.ALTOGETHER SEEMS TO BE ASTRATEGY TO MITIGATE METHANE.JIM: SMALL AMOUNTS OF DRYSEAWEED INTRODUCED INTO A COW'SDIET AND CUT METHANE BY AS MUCHAS 99%.OUT IN THE PASTURE WE VISIT THEENIVORNMENTAL MONITORING STATIONWHERE THERE'S ALL KINDS OFEQUIPMENT AIR QUALITY MONITORS,WIND MONITORS, EVEN CAMERAS.>> IT IS ALL BEING DIGITALLYANALYZE.JIM: ALONGSIDE ANDRE ASASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT UNH, THEYARE WORKING TO COME UP WITH THEDEBT THAT CAN HELP CRAFT THEPERFECT COW DIET TO REDUCE THOSEMETHANE GAS.RICK IS ALSO IN ON THE PROJECT.>> WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVESUSTAINABILITY OF THE LIVESTOCKINDUSTRY.IF SEAWEED IS A COMPONENT THATDOES THAT, THAT IS GREAT.JIM: 90% OF METHANE COMES FROM ACOLUMN WERE RATHER THAN FROM THEOTHER END.>> PART OF IT IS CHANGING THEDIET AND USING SUPPLEMENTS THATMAY BE PART OF OUR EXISTINGENVIRONMENT.JIM: WHAT BETTER PLACE TO STUDYBEEN HERE.>> WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVELOCAL RESOURCES, WHETHER THAT ISSEAWEED OR A GRASS CROP ACONSUME, OR OTHER FEED THEY AREABLE TO GROW IN THE NORTHEAST.JIM: THEY ARE ALSO STUDYING HOWMUCH OR HOW LITTLE SEAWEED NEEDSTO BE PRODUCED TO PRODUCE THEDESIRED EFFECT.
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Cow farts and climate change: There's a real connection, scientists say

Cows have four stomachs, and their burps and other "emissions" are not good for the atmosphere.

Cows have four stomachs, and scientists say their burps and other "emissions" are not good for the atmosphere.

Cows have four stomachs, and scientists say their burps and other "emissions" are not good for the atmosphere.

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