California Cows Fail Latest Emissions Test

[emad]

California Cows Fail Latest Emissions Test

James Owen
for National Geographic News

August 16, 2005

Standing around chewing the cud, cows don't look especially threatening. But dairy herds in California are the latest livestock to be branded an environmental health risk on account of their flatulent behavior.

This month government regulators issued a report identifying dairy cows as the main source of smog-forming pollutants in the San Joaquin Valley, California.


The announcement highlights growing concern over the global impact of greenhouse gasses produced by cattle and other livestock.

A dairy cow annually emits almost 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of smog-forming gases known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—more than a car or light truck, according to the San Joaquin Valley United Air Pollution Control District.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/08/0816_050816_cowpollution.html

[StopTheMorans]

1. *waits for onslaught of information claiming to statistically prove that

you are a better person if you don't eat meat*

[Misunderestimator]

2. Well... the problems caused by the flatulence of cows should be enough...

to at least recognize that cutting back on eating beef might not be such a bad thing.

[StopTheMorans]

3. i agree, but i also ride a bike to work and am quite vigilant about

recycling; i think it's alright to enjoy steak once in awhile :D

[Misunderestimator]

6. Once in a while is a far cry from most people...

I don't have any objections, as long as it's not veal. :P

[Deep13]

4. These are dairy cattle.

They are not being eaten.

[StopTheMorans]

5. distinctions aren't usually drawn here; regardless, these animals

are being subjugated

[Misunderestimator]

7. I think the point is not subjugation but flatulence and ruining the ozone.

No? :shrug:

[StopTheMorans]

9. i agree, i was just commenting (albeit snidely) on the fact that, when

a poster is looking to attack those who eat meat, they don't usually draw a distinction between animals that are kept for dairy products, and animals that are raised for meat.

[Misunderestimator]

10. So, basically, you're talking about some poster who hasn't even posted

on this thread yet?

I understand people who don't draw the distinction. We should be exploring other avenues that don't require this much breeding of cows so that their over-population actually destroys our ozone. There really is no difference in this matter between dairy and beef cattle.

[StopTheMorans]

11. yes, exactly.

it's not uncommon in the lounge to post anticipating a reply in an attempt to be amusing or incendiary :evilgrin:

[Misunderestimator]

12. True

:spank:

[Deep13]

8. Not the point.

Anyway, they are not subjugated, they are owned as farm assets.

"...regulators issued a report identifying dairy cows as the main source of smog-forming..."

The cited story drew a distinction between dairy and other cattle.

[MN ChimpH8R]

13. And I thought that I'd had some bad jobs...

"Heard ya got a new job Joe - what are you doing?"

"I am a professional monitor of cow farts."

:rofl:

Times are tough and it probably pays better than Wal-Mart.