Image source

The ancient Greeks and Icelanders know that feeding cows seaweed helps increase milk yield and at the same time provides a faster, than in the case of feeding grass or hay, weight gain in animals. This agricultural practice was is forgotten for hundreds of years until a Canadian farmer Joe Dorgan 11 years ago is not re-opened this secret. He found that the cows graze on the coast and regular chewing algae, feel better and give more milk than their relatives, fed conventional feed range for cattle.

As it turned out, feeding, using algae has another advantage - the cows begin to throw into the environment is less methane. Generally speaking, this is quite a significant problem, because cows emit a lot of methane - about 5% of the global production of this gas. Methane - a greenhouse gas, as well as CO2 and water vapor.

Canadian scientists Rob Kinley and Alan Fredeen conducted a series of studies to find out why the cows to "seafood" so feel well. Actually, all these findings are good and interesting for representatives of agriculture, but one of the results of their research and interested climatologists, together with experts who deal with the environment. It was found that cows that feed on algae, emit 20% less methane than those animals that eat grass, feed, and everything else that is necessary.

In addition to the cows, the researchers tested the reaction of representatives of another 20 species of herbivores feeding on algae. Here, the results were different - from zero to effect a 50% reduction of methane release from the body's waste products. The more algae given animal, the less they generate methane. The test diet was added of at least 20% by weight of algae feed.

The reduction is not so significant, and that on this occasion it was possible to beat the drums. But once the researchers decided to test what would happen if the algae to feed the animals of one species, typical of the coastal waters of Queensland. It is about Asparagopsis taxiformis. As it turned out, the effect is much higher methane thrown out 99% less than in normal conditions.

Experts and found the cause of this particular algae. The fact that Asparagopsis taxiformis produce small quantities of bromoform (CHBr₃). This compound prevents the cow synthesis by reacting methane with vitamin B12 in the last stage of digestion. As a result, the enzymes of the microorganisms used digestive systems of herbivorous animals for methane generation, do not come in the right quantities.

So what?

Many governments now declare readiness to combat global warming. In some countries, it is not just a declaration, but the real action that reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and methane.

These actions lead to significant results. Despite the fact that the economy continues to grow (and it is), over the past three years, the volume of global carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere have not changed. According to some experts, in the next few years, changes in the level of greenhouse gas emissions will depend on whether countries adhere to accepted principles of energy and climate policy, as well as coordinate with the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement.

Image source

The number of the world's population continues to grow, and these people need something to feed. Cattle - a source of large quantities of food, milk and dairy products to meat and semi-finished products. The problem is that the cows produce methane, as mentioned above. More people - need more cows, as a result - increasing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. But there is a solution - as it turned out, Asparagopsis taxiformis effectively prevents the generation of methane, which opens up the possibility of increasing the number of cattle in the world, while reducing the amount of methane produced.

Which countries can afford to feed their cows algae? It is, first and foremost, Australia, Canada, Great Britain and other countries that have access to the sea and its gifts. Algae can be grown even on special marine "meadows", without for grazing lands. algae yield is 30-50 tons of dry matter per hectare. In Australia the same for 10% of the population algae cattle this would require 6,000 hectares of sea "land."

Referenced Materials:

1. http://www.animalfeedscience.com/article/S0377-8401(15)30027-4/abstract
2. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10811-014-0487-z
3. https://steemit.com/science/@redalex/greenhouse-gas-emissions-have-stabilized-but-the-global-temperature-continues-to-rise
4. http://www.publish.csiro.au/an/AN15576
5. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-cow-farting-1.3856202