Daffodils Eaten By Livestock Could Address Climate Change

Daffodils, a plant considered as native in Europe specifically in Wales, are now seen by experts as helpful in addressing climate change.

How is this so?

According to researchers, daffodils can reduce the production of methane once they become part of the livestock's everyday meal.

Methane has been considered as the second most common greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, and this is commonly released by cows and sheep whenever they burp.

A report onthe BBC said that a chemical which can be extracted from daffodils could make methane production go down by a third when added to a cow's diet.

Researchers from the Scotland's Rural College conducted some laboratory experiment and they have found that haemanthamine, a chemical found in the daffodils, could reduce emissions by 30% when added to the cow's feed.

This finding is seen to mitigate the adverse effects of methane in the environment, the report said.

Goal of reducing methane

Almanac said daffodils are a fall-planted bulb that is often planted in October. Its flowers usually bloom in late winter or early spring.

The traditional daffodil flower is commonly yellow or white, having six petals and a trumpet-shape central corona.

However, there are types of daffodils today that are already a product of cultivation.

In an entry posted on AG Chemigroup, it was said that scientists have been studying the potential of plant extracts as a replacement feed additive.

One of the study's authors, Dr. Eva Ramos-Morales, said that the findings on daffodils has underscored the need to regulate processes and obtain plant extracts with consistent chemical composition so that its positive and beneficial effects to animals can be maximized.

A report on Sky News said that due to the daffodil discovery, farmers across England and Wales are already participating in the measures aim to reduce methane production and feed costs for the dairy cattle.

A four-year program of trials has already started in farms across United Kingdom, according to the report.

Professor Jamie Newbold, an academician of animal science at the Scotland's Rural College, said that the study has three main stages.

He explained that the first one was developing a supply chain of daffodils and extracting the chemicals from this plant.

The next one was testing that the additive is safe to both animals and humans while the third and last stage was working with farmer partners across England and Wales to prove that the additive is effective in decreasing methane production.

"This is vital because greenhouse gases and global warming is a major global challenge, and we hope our project will be part of the solution of reducing the role of ruminants in methane production," Newbold said in the Sky News report.

Read Also: Christmas Trees Absorb Greenhouse Gas Methane: Study

Cows as allies in addressing climate change

Earlier, cows were dubbed as allies in mitigating the impacts of climate crisis depending on how they are grazed, according to a CNN report.

The technique called as "Adaptive Multi-Paddock" was found to have pulled down up to four times as much carbon as the conventional grazers.

According to studies, this practice could help the cows burped up to 10% less methane.

A huge number of chickens, pigs, cows, and other animals that people raised and slaughtered for food annually accounted for around 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions, experts said.

This was primarily from cow burps, animal manure, and the fertilizer that was utilized to grow corn and soy.

Accordtling to a Reuters report said cattle is the major contributor to methane emissions from agriculture, which hit 142 million tons last year.

Related Article: Cows And Methane Emissions: How Do These Hoofed Animals Contribute To Climate Crisis?