We could also take action against climate change with cows that sneeze less. This conclusion was reached by researchers from Curtin University in Australia, who reviewed the results of 27 previous studies in order to come up with possible solutions.
According to the researchers, the fastest and most effective scenario would be to convert cultivated lands into wetlands, salt marshes and floodplain forests. However, the current level of methane emissions would be greatly reduced if, instead of cattle breeding, more attention was paid to animals that breathe less. Although estimates vary, methane emissions from cattle contribute significantly to global warming.
Previous studies have already revealed that the production of intestinal gas is a genetic trait that is easily inherited, which is why researchers would like to take advantage of this. This does not make it completely clear which are the best properties of this type to be inherited, so according to the authors, something should be done with the lands themselves. To be precise, some of them should be converted back into natural habitats.
They also found other useful solution options: according to the authors, it would be worthwhile to solve so that the cows grow up faster, the wastewater treatment of beef processing plants could be improved, and it would be worthwhile to give the animals purified water with ozone. In addition, based on previous research, it can be useful to feed cows with several types of grain, and various legumes and seaweeds could also be included in their diet. This would reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
The authors note that despite being the world’s second largest beef exporter and a signatory to the Paris climate agreement, Australia is not doing enough to reduce methane emissions. Even the 2021 methane agreement was signed, but the government did not set clear reduction targets.
