Wt the cost of Methane?

If you mean what is the cost to the environment, then it is high. Methane (CH4) is what is called a greenhouse gas, and can remain in the atmosphere for up to 15 years.

Over a hundred year period, methane is more than 20 times more efficient at locking in heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2) is, which leads to global warming and temperature changes that can have a huge negative impact on the world - such as flooding and decreased crop productions.

• The generation of methane

Methane is generated by a number of different things, both natural and man-made. These include some industrial processes, coal mining, agricultural actions, petroleum and natural gas systems, the treatment of waste water, and mobile and stationary combustion.

One major source of methane is the flatulence produced by cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats.

• Ruminants and methane

The animals listed above are called ruminants and the thing that they have in common is the ability to digest plants that would normally be indigestible and to turn it into nutritious fodder. The side effect of this ability is the gas (methane) that it produces.

• How much methane can they produce?

Obviously, the more animals a country has, the more methane will be produced. In the United States alone, there are about 100 million cattle and they are responsible for emitting 5.5 million tonnes of methane every single year, which accounts for a fifth (20%) of methane emissions in the States.

• How can this figure be reduced?

Scientists have shown that a better nutritional diet for cattle, and genetic improvements, greatly reduces methane emissions, and this has been evidenced within the dairy industry. Milk yield has increased with even larger herds of dairy cows, and yet methane has been reduced.

However, as yet, beef cattle are not given the same improved diet and so their emissions are still excessively high.