Why Cows Should Eat Seaweed

Earth’s 1.5 billion cows are large contributors to global warming. They spew a huge amount of methane into the atmosphere. And methane is a greenhouse gas that’s 30 times more harmful than carbon dioxide.

Cows aren’t deliberately plotting against us. The methane emitted through their bodily functions is a by-product of their biology. Cows and other ruminating animals digest cellulose-laden food (such as grass) by first fermenting it with the help of stomach bacteria. The end result of the microbial metabolism is methane, which the average cow produces 200-500 liters of per day. While sheep, goats and bison generate methane as well, 65% of the emissions come from cows. And livestock-produced greenhouse gas emissions exceed global car and airplane emissions combined.

One solution would be for humans the world over to stop raising cattle, eating beef, drinking milk and eating cheese. Not a very viable option! Or we could start adding a sprinkle of seaweed to livestock feed. Experiments have shown that one species of seaweed in particular, Asparagopsis taxiformis, greatly inhibits methane production. When this dried seaweed constituted just 2% of total feed, methane emissions dropped by 70-80%. The seaweed experiments were inspired by observations that seaside cattle, who eat seaweed which has washed ashore, are both heftier and healthier than their inland counterparts. Not only do they cause less environmental damage, they produce more milk. A win-win for eco-conscious cheese lovers everywhere!