British company develops mask for cows to combat methane emissions and fight climate change

Thanks to research and evidence, it is clear that humans are the biggest culprit in promoting climate change. As we become increasingly dependent on technology and industry, we have polluted the world. But the animals are not so innocent, especially the cattle. While beer and skew, they release methane, which is 84 times more toxic than carbon dioxide, which contributes greenhouse gases, equivalent to the fossil fuel industry.

So, the innocent animals are just as responsible for destroying the planet as we are. Since the war on climate change is going on and scientists are doing everything they can to protect our only habitat, technology will once again drive the factors that led to it. One such technology is intended for cattle, especially the dairy industry. To protect the planet from methane-emitting animals, a British company has started a solution – a mask. The company, called Zelp (Zero Emission Livestock Project), says the mask is designed to reduce up to 60 percent of methane emissions in cattle.

“We were aware that methane is one of the biggest contributors to global warming in every country, and we have found that methane reduction tools in agriculture are under investigation. There is not much innovation in the field,” said co-founder . Francisco Norris told Wired. Francisco and his brother Patricio own a cattle ranch in Argentina.

Cow mask
The cow mask breaks down methane, an 84 times more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide in CO2 and water
Facebook / Zelp

Cattle problem

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the livestock industry is responsible for as much as 7.1 gigatons of greenhouse gases or 14.5 percent of all carbon emissions worldwide. The livestock industry alone produces 5.24 gigatons of emissions annually. Taking into account, much attention has been paid to the control of the methane throttle by designing the addition of animal feed. It changes the digestive process and helps in reducing methane gas in the stomach of cattle.

However, chemical additives can become a problem for animal life and also for the products. There have been many deaths associated with SDS (sudden death syndrome) due to additives. So instead of changing the animal’s microbiology, it is better to offer a solution that will not affect the digestive process.

“About 95 percent of livestock’s methane release comes from their nostrils and mouths. The technology detects, traps and oxidizes methane when exhaled by the animals,” Norris said.

Emission by species
Cattle are responsible for a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions
FAO

How does it work?

Unlike a human face mask, the cow mask does not cover the mouth. The mask with a zipper mechanism sits just over the nostrils and helps it catch methane and breathe. The mask contains a sensor to determine what percentage of methane the cow exhales.

As the methane level increases, the mask begins the oxidation process. It uses a catalyst to convert methane (CH4) into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) and throw it out of the mask, reports Wired. “It reduces methane’s global warming potential to less than 1.5 percent of its original value,” Norris said.

Apart from the methane processing function, the mask also works as a smart device for cows. It tracks the location of cattle by means of a GPS slide, in addition to measuring feeding activity and sexual receptivity in female cattle. The Norris brothers believe it will help livestock owners identify early symptoms of a disease, as well as reduce farm costs.

The device has successfully passed trials conducted in institutions in Argentina other than the Royal Veterinary College in the United Kingdom. The studies found that the device had no effect on the behavior or nutrition of the animal. As meat consumption worldwide will increase by 70 percent within the next 30 years, according to FAO, demand in cattle and dairy industries will also increase. Therefore, the Norris brothers believe that their cow mask will be a step in the right direction in the fight against climate change.

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