Milk cows for methane

Agriculture in Ireland is responsible for 32% of CO2 emissions, which is set to increase by a further 9% by 2020 as a result of the milk quota being abolished in 2015 and an increase of dairy cow numbers.

With more than seven million cattle our emissions are among the highest in the EU.

It is now time to see if we can reduce these emissions. When cattle suffer from bloating, a relief valve can be fitted to the rumen to release this gas.

The rumen is the large first chamber where a cow’s food lies. Could these relief valves be fitted to dairy milking herds during milking with a snap on connection?

And then with the aid of a simple extract fan from a manifold, we could transfer this gas to a tank to use as a energy source.

Raymond White

Kilmore

Ballinspittle

Co Cork