By Stephen Beech via SWNS
Feeding cows seaweed could save the planet, according to a new study.
American researchers discovered that feeding kelp to grazing cattle cuts methane emissions by almost 40%.
They say their findings offer a solution for more climate-friendly farming as livestock account for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The largest portion comes from methane that cattle release when they break wind.
The new study, by researchers at the University of California, Davis, is the first to test seaweed on grazing beef cattle in the world.
The findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), showed that feeding grazing beef cattle a seaweed supplement in pellet form reduced their methane emissions by almost 40% without affecting their health or weight.
It follows previous studies that showed seaweed cut methane emissions by over 50% in dairy cows.
Study senior author Professor Ermias Kebreab said: “Beef cattle …