Saving world by fighting cows' burps, farts with oregano

Every time a cow burps or farts, it belches out methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that is 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide and now, a team of researchers wants to fight it to save the world.

According to official estimates, methane produced by livestock farming accounts for around 18 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions in the form of flatulence and belching, the Daily Mail reported.

Researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark believe that they could help solve the problem simply by feeding those cattle oregano.

They think the essential oils from the herb and its potent antimicrobial properties will kill off the bacteria growing in cows stomachs that emit methane.

Dr Kai Grevsen, a senior researcher involved in the project, told NPR that oregano has essential oils with a mild antimicrobial called carvacrol, which can kill some of the bacteria in the cow's rumen that produce methane.

Dr Greveson also said cows lose a lot of their energy through the process of releasing methane and hoped that the energy saved by blocking the methane-producing bacteria will allow the cow to generate more milk and therefore, be beneficial to farmer.

"We definitely think this could become a widespread solution, for both organic and conventional farmers," he noted, adding "It just depends on finding an inexpensive way to produce the oregano.