Dairy groups blast methane reductions: ‘Cows expel gas so they don’t explode’

theguardian.com ^ | Aug. 10, 2016 | Oliver Milman

[PROCON]

California’s attempt to curb emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, is facing vocal opposition from a dairy industry that fears government meddling in the flatulence of its cows.

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has set a goal of slashing methane emissions by 40% by 2030, from 2013 levels, and has targeted the belching and farting – known as “enteric fermentation” – of California’s 5.5 million beef and dairy cows, as well as the manure they create.

A strategy document produced by the regulator states that improved manure management practices, new diets for cattle and “gut microbial interventions” could help cut the amount of methane released into the atmosphere. State legislators are currently considering a bill to enforce these suggestions.

[PROCON]

Not to worry, Californians. If you begin hearing loud explosions coming from rural areas, it's just the California Air Resources Board saving the planet.

[rey]

Right. And their beloved wetlands restoration doesn’t produce any methane.

[PeterPrinciple]

This is TRUE! We had a pig born on the farm with out an a hole.............it eventually exploded just like the article says.

[lacrew]

[elcid1970]

Dave Barry wrote once about weaponizing exploding cows.

“Look out! He’s got a cow!”

“Could blow any second! I just heard its final death moo!”

[HarleyLady27]

You know, stupid, like humans do: It’s called ‘FARTING’...duh....

[Uncle Miltie]

[NorthMountain]

[rey]

The other goofy thing is a cow’s stomach is multi chambered and processes feed to a greater extent than monogastric animals. If you were to measure the amount of methane as a result of processing monogastric waste versus ruminant waste you would probably come up with a similar amount of methane.

[Gaffer]

.... [try out]“gut microbial interventions”

Yeah! Mother nature, God, whoever (even Allah, I guess) f@cked up......Man, it his infinite wisdom must rework that poor attempt at perfection and change it up - for the sake of change (and control of others in the process).

[PROCON]

Develop an agricultural version and you can retire rich.

[RatRipper]

Put ‘em on a diet of Bean-O

[rey]

Not exactly. Cows belch a lot as well. It is how they spit their cud back up from the first stomach to rechew so it may pass to the other stomach chambers.

[Gaffer]

Hey....no fair!!!! I run my Deere off that shit..... I call shenanigans!

[gigster]

And, if those flatulent cows stand on the beach on the island of Guam, it’s in danger of capsizing.

[faithhopecharity]

Politicians expel at least as much foul gas. Perhaps the good Lord will relieve us of politicians by exploding them ?

[faithhopecharity]

Praise the Lord!

[Flick Lives]

Perhaps someone should inform the brainiacs on the CARB that decaying plants produce... methane. The cow just speeds up the process.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Hey...didn’t the democrats have a Fart-in at their convention?

Is that going to contribute to the oceans rising?

[EQAndyBuzz]

Problem with California isn’t the cows. It’s the smug.