Name: This burp-catching mask for cows could slow down climate change
Brand: wired.co.uk
SKU: wired-co-uk-14
Availability: OnlineOnly

critic

This burp-catching mask for cows could slow down climate change

preview

We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site. .There are 1.6 billion cattle on Earth, and their burps and farts . Cows expel methane, a colourless and odourless gas which is approximately 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to warming the planet.As a result, according to a recent report by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, the combined greenhouse gas emissions of America’s 13 largest dairy companies are equivalent to those of some major fossil fuel giants., a UK-based company, has developed a potential solution in the form of a burp-catching face mask for cows, designed to reduce methane emissions from cattle by 60 per cent. The firm was founded by brothers Francisco and Patricio Norris, whose family run a livestock farming business in Argentina. “We were aware that in every country, methane is one of the biggest contributions to global warming and we found that methane mitigation tools in agriculture are under-researched,” says Francisco. “There isn’t a lot of innovation occurring within the field.”Generally, solutions to the livestock industry’s methane problem have come in the form of feed additives, which inhibit the production of the gas in the cattle’s stomachs by altering their digestive process.Most PopularInstead of changing the animals’ microbiology, Zelp allows animals to digest normal foods without this interference.The mask fits comfortably on a cow’s head with a zip-tie-like mechanism allowing it to be adjusted to various cattle’s head sizes depending on the breed. It is applied to cattle after they are weaned, usually at 6-8 months of age, and sits next to the nostrils, allowing the tool to capture methane from their breathing, belches and burps. “Around 95 per cent of the cattle’s methane emissions come from their nostrils and mouths,” Norris explains. “The technology detects, captures and oxidises methane when it is exhaled by the animals.”At the tip of the mask, a sensor detects when the cow exhales and the percentage of methane that is expelled. When methane levels get too high, the mask channels the gas towards an oxidation mechanism inside, which contains a catalyst that converts methane into CO2 and water, and expels it from the device. “It reduces methane’s global warming potential to less than 1.5 per cent of its original value,” Norris explains.Zelp has conducted behavioural trials and observations with institutions in the UK and Argentina, including the Royal Veterinary College, which have indicated that the wearable has no impact on the animal’s behaviour and feeding.Although reducing methane is at the forefront of the design, Zelp also measures feeding activity, cattle location and sexual receptivity in female cattle. With this information, the team can monitor individual animals and identify the early signs of disease, helping to improve welfare and reduce costs on farms. “All these parameters would combine in a different way,” says Norris. “For example, if you see methane production dropping but feed activity increasing, that could signal one thing. If you see methane production increasing and activity decreasing, that could signal a completely different thing.”The data can also help determine how efficient or polluting a herd is – eventually, information could be collected across farms to understand methane emissions and cattle health at a regional and national level.The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN predicts that beef and dairy consumption is going to rise by approximately 70 per cent in the next 30 years, and the team behind Zelp believe that the solution to ensuring climate action is implemented in time to meet goals lies in a collaborative approach. They hope their product will complement the development of alternative meat during this vital period – by capturing and transforming methane, one burp at a time.More great stories from WIRED💉 Inside France’s plan to 🇸🇬 How with tech and contact tracing📱 Want to take better pictures? These are the 🔊 , the week in science, technology and culture, 👉 Follow WIRED on , , and

We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site. .There are 1.6 billion cattle on Earth, and their burps and farts . Cows expel methane, a colourless and odourless gas which is approximately 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to warming the planet.As a result, according to a recent report by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, the combined greenhouse gas emissions of America’s 13 largest dairy companies are equivalent to those of some major fossil fuel giants., a UK-based company, has developed a potential solution in the...

public

Dan Burn-Forti

Anna Marks

Wired UK is a bimonthly magazine that reports on the effects of science and technology. It covers a broad range of topics including design, architecture, culture, the economy, politics and philosophy. Owned by Condé Nast Publications, it is published in London and is an offshoot of the original American Wired.

This burp-catching mask for cows could slow down climate change

No article scores yet.

CRITIC REVIEWS

PUBLIC REVIEWS