SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian scientists are trying to transplant a kangaroo-specific bacterium into the stomachs of sheep and cattle so that their flatulence no longer contains methane, which promotes global warming.
Thanks to this bacteria, kangaroo gases do not contain methane, unlike cows and sheep whose flatulence can represent a high percentage of the total volume of greenhouse gas emissions.
"14% of emissions from all origins in Australia come from the bowels of cattle and sheep," said Thursday Athol Klieve, a scientist working in a program set up by the government of the state of Queensland (north- is).
"And if you take the case of other countries, like New Zealand where animal husbandry is more developed, the level reaches around 50%," he told AFP.
The researchers also claimed that the bacterium allowed for a more efficient digestion of food and could potentially save millions of dollars in food costs for farmers.
"Not only will the animals no longer emit methane, they will also get 10 to 15% more energy from what they eat," Klieve said.
But the work is still in its infancy: the isolation of this bacterium should take about three years before we can begin to develop a technique to transplant it to cows and sheep.
When will the kangaroo yoghurt (kangouyourt? Will it go?) In our plates ??
