Kangaroo farts could ease global warming

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

AUSTRALIAN scientists are trying to give kangaroo-style stomachs to cattle and sheep in a bid to cut the emission of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, researchers say.

Thanks to special bacteria in their stomachs, 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 greenhouse gas pollution is a billowing smokestack pushing out carbon dioxide, livestock passing wind contribute a surprisingly high percentage of total emissions in some countries.

"Fourteen per cent 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 Government.

"And if you look at another country such as New Zealand, which has got a much higher agricultural base, they're actually up around 50 per cent,'' 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 to 15 per cent more energy out of the feed they are eating,'' said Mr Klieve.

Even farmers who laugh at the idea of environmentally friendly kangaroo farts say that's nothing to joke about, particularly given the devastating drought Australia is suffering.

"In a tight year like a drought situation, 15 per cent would be a considerable sum,'' said farmer Michael Mitton.

But it will take researchers at least three years to isolate the bacteria, before they can even start to develop a way of transferring it to cattle and sheep.

Another group of scientists, meanwhile, has suggested Australians should farm fewer cattle and sheep and just eat more kangaroos.

The idea is controversial, but about 20 per cent of health-conscious Australians are believed to eat the national symbol already.

"It's low in fat, it's got high protein levels it's very clean in the sense that basically it's the ultimate free range animal,'' said Peter Ampt of the University of New South Wales's institute of environmental studies.

"It doesn't get drenched, it doesn't get vaccinated, it utilises food right across the landscape, it moves around to where the food is good, so yes, it's a good food.''

It might take a while for kangaroos to become popular barbecue fare, but with concern over global warming growing in the world's driest inhabited continent, Australians could soon be ready to try almost anything to cut emissions.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,2...5005961,00.html

[Ban Hammer 12,880]

oh the joys of science

[Emancipation 2]

This is what passes for science now?

[Ban Hammer 12,880]

This is what passes for science now?

good pun

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Or we could just change our diets to kangaroo meat.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Or we could just change our diets to kangaroo meat.

Sounds good to me.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Or we could just change our diets to kangaroo meat.

Sounds good to me.

Beef from cattle is highly inefficient...something like 23 lbs of feed for every pound of beef, whereas Ostrich is something like 4:1. I had an Ostrich burger at Fuddrucker's awhile ago and it was delicious.

[HAL 9000 96]

Actually, read up on the amount of methane produced from cow farts. Thus eating beef is a good thing...

[Methane + Oxygen -> Water vapor + Carbon dioxide]

Even the right out wing can agree to a couple of extra cookouts in the name of preventing global warming.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Or we could just change our diets to kangaroo meat.

Sounds good to me.

Beef from cattle is highly inefficient...something like 23 lbs of feed for every pound of beef, whereas Ostrich is something like 4:1. I had an Ostrich burger at Fuddrucker's awhile ago and it was delicious.

Ostrich Farm. Idea #864 in my wife's roadmap to wealth.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Or we could just change our diets to kangaroo meat.

Sounds good to me.

Beef from cattle is highly inefficient...something like 23 lbs of feed for every pound of beef, whereas Ostrich is something like 4:1. I had an Ostrich burger at Fuddrucker's awhile ago and it was delicious.

Ostrich Farm. Idea #864 in my wife's roadmap to wealth.

Really? Me too...that or Emus.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Ostrich Farm. Idea #864 in my wife's roadmap to wealth.

Gotta come to FL where - for some odd reason - Ostrich feed is explicitly exempt from state sales taxes.