Cutting Cow Gas

A pill that stops cows from breaking wind and burping has been developed by German scientists.

The breakthrough could be a major contribution to reducing global warming as the methane gas produced by cows and other ruminants is believed to be responsible for 4 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.

Developed by scientists at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, the pill works by transferring energy in the methane produced when a cow digests grass and using it to boost the cow's metabolism. The energy from the fermentation process is instead used to produce glucose rather than being passed as wind.

Combined with changes to the cow's diet and strict feeding times, the research team claims that the chemical changes induced by the pill will reduce the amount of methane produced by cows and should also lead to the cows producing more milk.

The research team was lead by professor of animal nutrition Winfried Drochner, who says the tablet -- which is still being tested -- will be good for the well-being of our bovine friends as well as boosting agricultural production and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The scientists are now focussing their attention on how to get cows to swallow the fist-sized pill. According to Dr Drochner the pill needs to be large as it dissolves slowly in the cow's stomach, releasing active ingredients over several months.