Rearing cattle produces more greenhouse gases than driving cars - that’s a fact (Livestock’s long shadow, UN report 29 November 2006).

A love of cheesburgers therefore not only killed Elvis in his prime, but is highly likely to cause climate chaos in the years ahead. Or maybe not.

Today, scientists have published the cow genome. After 6 years of work by more than 300 researchers, and $53 million in funding, the genetic map of the cow species is now known.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle this means that:

The researchers believe the findings will help improve the quality and safety of beef and dairy products and can be used to develop better ways of treating and preventing diseases that affect cattle.

Surely though as well as being able to breed cows that produce more milk and meat those clever genetic experts will be able to engineer a cow that well, to be blunt, farts less? And less methane is good for the planet given it’s 23 times as warming as CO2.

So given time will supercow be a reality? Or do we all need to start eating a lot less meat? I’m more than happy to sacrifice a few cheeseburgers if it means we don’t all end up eating Soylent Green.

Useless fact of the day - “Cattle and humans have about 80 percent of their genes in common”


It seems Mel Brooks got it right all those years ago in that classic comedy campfire scene from the 1974 hit Blazing Saddles - farting is funny and may also be good for you!

At least that’s what I take from this science story on the BBC website: ‘Fart gas’ link to blood pressure. According to scientists at Johns Hopkins University, smelly hydrogen sulphide is “produced by an enzyme in blood vessels where it relaxes them and lowers blood pressure.”

Researcher Dr Solomon Snyder said: “Now we know hydrogen sulphide’s role in regulating blood pressure, it may be possible to design drug therapies that enhance its formation as an alternative to the current methods of treatment for hypertension.”

The image that comes to my mind is the Vicks ’stick’ nasal inhaler:

The NEW Vicks Fart Inhaler

If in future you find yourself in a high stress situation and feel your chest tightening simply reach for your handy ‘fart pen’, take a quick whiff and feel the tension within melt away. I can see the marketing ad on TV now!

A cheaper alternative would be to watch again one of the greatest American comedies of all time - coming in at number six in the AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Laughs list. And so, without any apologies, I offer you the YouTube video Blazing Saddles - Farting Cowboys. It’s less than a minute long and just think of the health benefits!

Taking the fart gag too far? “How ’bout some more beans Mr Taggart?”

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