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In the current race to lower greenhouse gas emissions, environmentalists are pointing to an unlikely culprit – the cow.

National Geographic brings us the details…

“Just one cow can produce up to 500 liters of methane gas a day. In fact the methane produced by the manure of a typical cow translates to a little over one and a half tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. That’s about the same amount generated annually by a commuter driving to and from work alone each day.” (National Geographic)

All this methane and carbon dioxide adds up. Discovery’s Planet Green reports that almost one fifth of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by raising cattle.

“Cows create almost 20 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. Now that’s more than planes, trains and automobiles combined.” (Discovery Channel)

Global meat consumption worldwide is on the rise, leading to these increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Here’s FOX News with more…

“Between 1970 and 2002, the annual per capita meat consumption in developing countries has risen from 24 pounds to 64 pounds.” (FOX News)

ABC News Australia reports scientists are experimenting with ways to reduce methane production in cows.

“There's a few different lines that the research is going down, some of it goes to different feed options, some of goes to breeding … there's also some work being done as to whether there can be bacteria that's actually put into the stomachs of these animals, that then reduces the methane that comes through their mouth.” (ABC News)

MSNBC says legislators in the U.S. are proposing another way to limit the amount of cattle farmers raise.

“There’s an idea being floated by the Environmental Protection Agency to charge farmers for each of their bovine gas producers—a cow gas tax. About $175 per cow, per year.” (MSNBC)

But some farmers are outraged at the proposal. An Ohio NBC affiliate reports…

(SWV) CowsGlobalWarming—Gas Tax (00:15-00:26)
Ladd Hastings and his wife and business partner, Brenda, have 680 head of Holsteins. “The amount that we would have to pay for that—that’s—we won’t even make…our profit won’t even be that this year.”  (WKYC)

Should we be concerned about greenhouse gases produced by cattle? Is a cow gas tax an appropriate way to deal with this issue?

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