Happy Mouth

May 25, 2021: Making Cow Burps Better For The Environment With Seaweed

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As the world looks to combat global warming, some scientists are taking a closer look at cow burps. While that might sound funny, livestock account for a significant percentage of global greenhouse gases thanks, in large part, to cattle burping methane. Scientists might have found the ideal solution in seaweed though.

On this episode of the Happy Mouth podcast, chef Nyesha Arrington and restaurateur Philip Camino dive into the UC Davis study that is turning heads and stopping burps. Philip and Nyesha talk with one of the scientists behind the study, Breanna Roque, to hear the details about how one type of seaweed is cutting greenhouse gas emissions from cattle by up to 82%.

Listen to Philip and Nyesha discuss cow methane:
  • The emission of greenhouse gases accelerate global warming drastically
  • Livestock accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse gases
  • A cow will belch about 220 pounds of methane a year, which is 28-times more potent than carbon dioxide in warming the atmosphere
  • Ermias Kebreab -- a professor at UC Davis -- and his Ph.D. candidate Breanna Roque conducted a study that supplemented a portion of cattle’s feed with high-fiber alternatives like seaweed and found a 60% reduction in cow methane
  • Seaweed inhibits an enzyme in the digestive system that produces methane
  • In a blind study, there was no difference in the flavor of beef and milk produced from cattle fed seaweed
  • The active component in seaweed that combats methane production in cattle is bromoform

    • Links:

    Happy Mouth Podcast Instagram

    UC Davis - Feeding cattle seaweed reduces their greenhouse gas emissions 82 percent

    UC Davis - Cows and climate change

    We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other shows:

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    The Happy Mouth Morning Show

    Restaurant Marketing School

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    Happy MouthBy Philip Camino & Nyesha Arrington
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