Scientists ponder why kangaroos fart less than sheep

Australian Broadcasting Corporation via Ananova ^ | June 3, 2002

[Clive]

Scientists ponder why kangaroos fart less than sheep Australian scientists are trying to work out why kangaroos don't fart as often as sheep and cattle. Queensland Government scientists are investigating microbes in kangaroos' stomachs.

The Department of Primary Industries researchers want to isolate the bacteria in kangaroos that prevents the production of methane.

ABC News Online says they then plan to see if it can be used to reduce gas emissions from cattle and sheep.

If successful, the move could reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from livestock.

Department of Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said: "If we can have a breakthrough there, it'll be great news for the environment because at the end of the day it will mean a reduction in the 60 million tonnes of gas emissions that come from our cows and our sheep each year."

[mconder]

Queensland Government scientists

Yet another colossal waste of tax payer money.

[Gumlegs]

It's how I heat my house.

[general_re]

I bet you go through a lot of furnace filters.

[Free the USA]

Bump list

[Gumlegs]

I regard the cow itself as the filter. The smell of burning clover does't appeal much.

[general_re]

And how do you keep the burners from getting clogged? Some sort of cowlostomy? (rimshot)

Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk...

[Gumlegs]

No problem. We just get a couple of local liberals and tell them the cow is Hillary. They're glad to come over and ... well, you get the idea.

[general_re]

Sooner or later, one of them will notice that the cows aren't wearing a black pantsuit, and then you'll be awfully cold. A little Beano in the cowfeed, and you're up the creek...

[babble-on]

It's weird, because my pet Kangaroo farts like crazy. Must be all those Corn Nuts.

[Gumlegs]

But the cow is wearing a black pantsuit. And now that it's summer, our Beano bills are going through the roof.

[aruanan]

And you know this because...?

Because I listened to an NPR program about flatulence in which they interviewed some British researcher named Colin Leakey. Ha ha ha.

[scouse]

epartment of Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said: "If we can have a breakthrough there, it'll be great news for the environment because at the end of the day it will mean a reduction in the 60 million tonnes of gas emissions that come from our cows and our sheep each year."

It is quite obvious to me that Mr Palaszczuk has never come into contact with primates, especially the gorilla.

[general_re]

I think I wouldn't care to be downwind of your house...

[general_re]

Well, if you can't trust NPR to give you an "inside look" at hot gases, who can you trust?

[PatrickHenry]

Thanks for the ping (if you know what I mean).

[Duckdog]

How much is this going to cost me?

[Gladwin]

Important scientific questions bump.

They have cows with portholes, you know. Ag researchers really are interested in this stuff. We wouldn't have cheap, corn fed beef without science. Cows get sick on corn, and have to be fed antibiotics to survive. Cows were adapted to eat grass, but a grass fed cow takes ~5 years to get to market. It takes 1-2 years for corn fed beef to get to market.

Grass fed beef also has less E.Coli bacteria because E.Coli thrives in the acidic environment of a corn fed cow's stomach. Cows naturally have a basic environment. Here is a link to grass fed beef.

I am a crank about this stuff. ;)

[Gumlegs]

Have I ever mentioned how much I like being at the office?

[VadeRetro]

Another try at your link. I may give that a shot. Don't know if I've ever had grass-fed beef.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...he deserves at least a footnote in the final report...

...a 'note', in the 'final report.' Good one!

Clive, your wit is once again wielded like an epee.