A French research has uncovered a new threat to the environment
France's 20 million cows account for an astonishing 6.5 per cent of national greenhouse-gas emissions, according to his estimates. Each year, their belches send 26 million tonnes of these gases into the atmosphere.
Their faeces -- "dejection bovine," to use the poetic-sounding French phrase -- account for another 12 million tonnes. Compare that with the 12 million tonnes of gas emitted by French oil refineries, demonised by greenies as climate-killers.
Nor is bovine gas just any old gas. It comprises methane and nitrous oxide, which volume-for-volume are 21 and 310 times more effective at trapping solar heat respectively than boring CO2.
By itself, methane is to blame for a fifth of the man-made greenhouse effect of the past 200 years. The good news is that, when it comes to cow farting, we can all breathe a little easier.
I wonder how many other animals fart....
