Kangaroo faeces could reduce methane emissions from cows

Faeces from baby kangaroos helped slash the amount of methane produced by bacteria in an artificial cow stomach

By Saugat Bolakhe

11 May 2023

Cows produce a large portion of global methane emissions

Shutterstock/Volodymyr TVERDOKHLIB

Kangaroo faeces may be able to help reduce the amount of methane produced by cows – a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions from farming.

Methane has a warming effect in the atmosphere that is almost 30 times more potent than that of carbon dioxide. Around half of global methane emissions come from ruminants like cattle and goats, which harbour a group of bacteria called methanogens in their stomachs. Methanogens scavenge and consume hydrogen gas – produced during the digestion of sugars – …

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