The majority of methane comes from the stomachs of cows. Bacteria in a cow's rumen produce methane as a byproduct of digestion. Researchers have developed methane collection devices that can be attached to cows to capture the methane as it is released, usually from the rear end. Reducing methane losses from cows could help increase their size by retaining more of the energy from their food.

1. Which end of the cow
does methane
come out?

2. Where is all this
methane coming
from?
http://images.google.ca/images?q=cows&hl=en
Presentation by Rand Davis and Lianne Henderson

3. Methane release
15% of
methane
85% of
methane
Methane loss = energy loss
Energy loss = smaller cows

4. EPA compilation 2002

5. Methane Production in Animals
0.4%
5%
11%
71%!!!!

6. Stomach of a cow
Rumen
Inside
of the
rumen
Bacteria
in the
gut

7. Methane Collection
Device
Methane
Collection Device

9. Which end of the cow
does methane
come out?

10. Where is all this
methane coming
from?
http://images.google.ca/images?q=cows&hl=en
Presentation by Rand Davis and Lianne Henderson

11. Methane release
15% of
methane
85% of
methane
Methane loss = energy loss
Energy loss = smaller cows

12. EPA compilation 2002

13. Methane Production in Animals
0.4%
5%
11%
71%!!!!

14. Stomach of a cow
Rumen
Inside
of the
rumen
Bacteria
in the
gut

15. Methane Collection
Device
Methane
Collection Device