Kangaroos To The Rescue

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Kangaroo Eastern Grey

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Australian scientists are trying to give kangaroo-style stomachs to cattle and sheep in a bid to cut the emission of green house gases blamed on global warming, researchers say. Thanks to the special bacteria in their stomach, kangaroo flatulence contains no methane and scientists want to transfer that bacteria to cattle and sheep who emit large quantities of the harmful gas.

While the usual image of grrenhouse gas pollution is a billowing smokestack pushin out carbon dioxide, livestock passing wind contribute a surprisingly high percentage of total emissions in some countries. "14% of emissions from all sources in Australia is from enteric methane from cattle and sheep," said Athol Klieve, a senior research scientist with the Queensland state government. And if you look at another country such as New Zealand, which has got a much higher agricultural base, they are actually up around 50%," he said.

Researchers say the bacteria also makes the digestive process much more efficient and could potentially save millions of dollars in feed costs for farmers. "Not only would they not produce the methane, they would actually get something like 10-15% more energy out of the feed they are eating," said Klieve.

Source: AFP, Sydney.