Low-Methane Dairy Farms

Low-Methane Dairy Farms?

The world’s demand for milk, cheese and beef is not going down.  In fact, it may double in the next 30 years.  Yet, the scary thing is that emissions from cattle on many farms is a major contributor to global climate change.  Some even estimate that the gas from cows is worse for the world than the gas we put into our vehicles.

Could we find an answer to this quandary in low-methane dairy farms?

Experiments are underway in Vermont and France, among other locales, to find a way to make cows less gassy and our air a little cleaner.  Many are wondering whether farming and global climate change are closely enough linked that – by a simple change in cows’ diet – we can significantly impact greenhouse gas emissions.

This year, 15 farms in Vermont altered the feed for their cattle to include more omega-3 grains, like alfalfa and flaxseed, as opposed to corn or soy.  In doing so, the cows burped less often because the food was more akin to what they would eat in nature.  And – amazingly – the methane output from a single U.S. farm dropped an amazing 18 percent.

Why is this significant?   In other words… who cares what cows eat?  Well, these gentle vegetarians were “designed” to ingest naturally occurring grasses and other plants.  By going for the cheap corn and soy feed, farmers inadvertently cause the animals to belch more methane than would otherwise occur.  And methane is the second most significant heat-trapping gas, after CO2.

While methane is less common than CO2 in the atmosphere, it is far more dangerous – with 20 times the heat-trapping qualities.  And, each cow can output 200-400 pounds of methane per year.

So, what can we do?  Part of the answer may be to adjust the feed the cows are enjoying to reduce gas emissions.  Another part could be to work with genetic engineering to naturally reduce the number of burps and farts emanating from each cow.

Pause for peals of laughter from my kids, who think that farting and belching cows are hilarious.

Low-methane farms with the right feed

Stonyfield Farm, a leader in the dairy/organic markets, started as a fundraising arm for a non-profit dairy school.  Today, its famous for yogurt, organic milk and cheese.  Stonyfield is a huge influence with respect to low-methane farms because they realized (the hard way) that their dairy farm productions was the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.  Noted its Vice President for natural resources, Nancy Hirshberg:

“I was shocked when I got the report, because it said our number one impact is milk production.  Not burning fossil fuels for transportation or packaging, but milk production.  We were floored.”

By switching the feed to spring grasses that are high in Omega-3 acids, cows’ digestive systems function better.  As an added bonus, milk production jumps by 10% too.  Many believe that the added output of milk will offset the slightly higher cost for the Omega-3 grains.

Just think how much better you feel when you eat the right food.   The cows love it too!  They are more robust, have shinier coats and… in case you get close and personal with your cattle…. they have sweet smelling breath.

If the low-methane feed model was adopted at more dairy farms, and not just organic-certified ones, we could all breathe a little easier.  Estimates are that the total industry emissions could be reduced by 25% over the next 10 years.  That’s no bull!