Burping Cows Try New Diet

Adding seaweed to cows’ diets could help reduce methane production and help curb climate change.
Karin Heineman, Executive Producer

(Inside Science) -- Scientists have found that when cows digest a certain species of red algae seaweed, called Asparagopsis taxiformis, it creates a compound that could limit the production of methane  -- a powerful greenhouse gas that is 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

When it comes to cattle-related emissions, burping cows pack the most punch, accounting for roughly 95% of the methane released into the environment.

Author Bio & Story Archive

Karin Heineman is the executive producer of Inside Science TV.