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News Online: UK: Scotland
Wednesday, 30 January, 2002, 16:47 GMT
Cow
feed researchers smell success
Methane
from cattle damages the environment
Aromatic plant oils in cattle feed could make cows less flatulent and dung smell sweeter if a research project is successful.
The EU-funded project led by
scientists at the Rowett Research Institute in
Researchers believe that plant extracts could increase the efficiency of livestock production, help the environment and slow the spread of antibiotic resistance in human infections.
Natural plant extracts contain essential oils which have been found to have a beneficial effect on bacteria in the cow's rumen - the first section of the stomach.
We know
that the release of methane from ruminants is extremely damaging to the
environment.
Dr Wallace of the Rowett Research Institute
Using aromatic extracts of herbs such as thyme, mint and others could reduce the level of fermentation in the rumen - causing less flatulence and a more bearable smell.
Dr John Wallace, head of the microbial metabolism research group at the Rowett, said: "We know that the release of methane from ruminants is extremely damaging to the environment.
"We believe our work has the potential to halt this increase and help stabilise the environment by taking a natural route to improved rumen fermentation.
"At the same time, we believe that the current growth in antibiotic resistance in humans, part of which is generally accepted to be linked to the use of antibiotics in animal feeding, could also be reduced by quite a substantial amount."
Dr Wallace said that the natural oils have a pleasant smell.
Significant improvement
He said: "Although the effects on the manure are small, the distinctive aroma is very obvious, indeed pleasant, in the building used to house the cattle."
The Rowett's interest in the
potential feeding value of new plant species is rooted in 20 years of work with
the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in
Scientists have found that
foliage from a tree species in
Dr Wallace said that this suppression leads to a "significant improvement" in production efficiency which resulted in less methane and more benefit to the environment.
The 'novel plants' research
project, of which the Rowett is the co-ordinating body, involves academic and
commercial partners in
The work is funded by the EU at £1.2m (1.94m Euros), plus a contribution of £85,000 (137,640) Euros from the Swiss government.