6/24/2023 0 Comments Cow skull gas mask![]() The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN predicts that beef and dairy consumption is going to rise by approximately 70 per cent in the next 30 years, and the team behind Zelp believe that the solution to ensuring climate action is implemented in time to meet global climate change goals lies in a collaborative approach. The data can also help determine how efficient or polluting a herd is – eventually, information could be collected across farms to understand methane emissions and cattle health at a regional and national level. If you see methane production increasing and activity decreasing, that could signal a completely different thing.” “For example, if you see methane production dropping but feed activity increasing, that could signal one thing. “All these parameters would combine in a different way,” says Norris. ![]() With this information, the team can monitor individual animals and identify the early signs of disease, helping to improve welfare and reduce costs on farms. Zelp has conducted behavioural trials and observations with institutions in the UK and Argentina, including the Royal Veterinary College, which have indicated that the wearable has no impact on the animal’s behaviour and feeding.Īlthough reducing methane is at the forefront of the design, Zelp also measures feeding activity, cattle location and sexual receptivity in female cattle. ![]() “It reduces methane’s global warming potential to less than 1.5 per cent of its original value,” Norris explains. When methane levels get too high, the mask channels the gas towards an oxidation mechanism inside, which contains a catalyst that converts methane into CO2 and water, and expels it from the device. “The technology detects, captures and oxidises methane when it is exhaled by the animals.”Īt the tip of the mask, a sensor detects when the cow exhales and the percentage of methane that is expelled. “Around 95 per cent of the cattle’s methane emissions come from their nostrils and mouths,” Norris explains. It is applied to cattle after they are weaned, usually at 6-8 months of age, and sits next to the nostrils, allowing the tool to capture methane from their breathing, belches and burps. ![]() The mask fits comfortably on a cow’s head with a zip-tie-like mechanism allowing it to be adjusted to various cattle’s head sizes depending on the breed. ![]()
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