Here is a picture of cows entering a bio-bubble. The Bio bubble is a sealed environment which allows researchers to accurately measure the emmissions of the cows.

Cows had long been blamed as a major contributor to the emmission problems that we are experiencing today but in a dramatic blow for the anti-cow campaigners Frank Mitloehner (who's name co-incidentally means "cow fancier" in German) of the University of California at Davis has found that they contribute far less than at first thought. His cow saving research has quantified the amount of smog-causing chemicals produced each year at 6.4 pounds, almost exactly half of the commonly accepted estimate of cow gas (so to speak).

This is good news for the dairy farmers of California's San Joaquin Valley who collectively provide a caring and sharing environment for over 1.7 million cows. Nasty accusations had been made that they were the prime contributor to the smog problems that plagued the valley. Naturally, the Air Resources Board who monitors these sorts of things dismissed the 26 million cars and trucks that sputter and belch their way along the valley's highways as the cause and pointed the finger of blame directly at the Holsteins that were grazing outside their office window.

So where do these cow gases come from? Not the end of the cow that you would at first suspect. It seems the bulk of emissions of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs eminate from the cows mouth during the rumination stage of cow digestion.

Spokeswoman for Air Resources Board, Gennet Paauwe, reeling, as if from a well placed kick from Holstein (never walk behind them when they are being milked Gennet), claimed that "More research was needed"

They are the words that any self respecting scientist is waiting to hear and Frank Mitloehner will be happy to oblige.

(via Wired)