It never ceases to amaze me what some people will waste their money on.  At least this one didn’t get funding from American Tax payers.

Australian scientists are trying to give kangaroo-style stomachs to cattle and sheep in a bid to cut the emission of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, researchers say.

Thanks to special bacteria in their stomachs, kangaroo flatulence contains no methane and scientists want to transfer that bacteria to cattle and sheep who emit large quantities of the harmful gas.

There is only one part if this research that could have any economic benefits.  That is the claim that the digestive process may become more efficient and therefore cost less in feed.  Somehow, I doubt that the bennifit will be very large.  We don’t know that this efficiency will mean cows will eat less.  Just because they get more energy from the feed doesn’t mean they will feel more full and eat less.  The numbers on efficiency, if at all accurate, are quite high though.

Not only would they not produce the methane, they would actually get something like 10 to 15 percent more energy out of the feed they are eating,

Since the research will take time some scientists think that Australians should stop eating so much cattle and start eating kangaroos instead.  Of course, that wouldn’t be a controversial move right?  I mean, who would object to killing and eating kangaroos?

http://www.savethekangaroo.com/
http://blog.peta.org/archives/kangaroo_leather/