If grazing cows have lower emissions than their counterparts in stables, it may trigger a lower CO2 tax. Burping and farting cows account for almost a third of the agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions. But now it is being investigated whether cows on pasture have a lower emission of climate-harming gases than counterparts that primarily stay indoors in stables. This is reported by DR News. Researchers from Aarhus University are conducting the study. Preliminary results suggest that grazing cows emit less, according to the media. According to Professor Peter Lund, Department of Animal Science and Veterinary Science, this may be due to the way cows on pasture consume feed differently. “It is simply the way the animal eats that is so fundamentally different when it is grazing, which results in the cow producing less methane,” he told DR.
Currently, conventional farms have the option to add substances to the animals’ feed in the barn that inhibit the formation of harmful gases. However, this is not possible in organic production. The government has decided to introduce a CO2 tax on agriculture, and experts are currently discussing various models. If it can be proven that grazing cows have a lower climate impact, it could be an economic advantage in the form of a lower CO2 tax, DR writes. Niels Mikkelsen, who has an organic farm near Vinderup north of Holstebro, calls the research project “insanely important.” “We probably can’t completely avoid this climate tax that’s on the way. I would also like to be sure that the calculations are based on concrete numbers,” he said to DR.