Penn State, Department of Dairy and Animal Science, announced on its web site on Thursday, August 26, 2010, that they developed unusual feed supplement that could help reducing greenhouse gases produced by cows.Compared to carbon dioxide, methane has 23 times the potential to create global warming, and its production is a natural part of the digestive process of cows and other ruminants, such as bison, sheep and goats.
It is estimated that large percentage of cattle emits around 37 percent of anthropogenic methane, that’s why finding the natural methane-reduction supplement is very good news for the environment.
Experiments revealed, an oregano-based supplement could contribute in methane reduction in dairy cows by 40 percent, and it resulted with increased daily milk production.
Methane production is an energy loss for the animal, and by decreasing energy loss, the cows can use that energy for other processes, such as making milk, according to Alexander Hristov, an associate professor of dairy nutrition.The possible natural solution was recognized after six years of researching without demonstrating any negative effects during the experiments.
Currently, Prof. Hristov wants to identify some active compounds including carvacrol, geraniol and thymol, found in oregano, which presumably have more important role in methane suppression.
If this is right, the active compounds could be easier commercially produced as pure and be more economical for farmers to use.Written by Jasmina Nikoloska
Source: http://live.psu.edu/story/48055
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