Bill Gates has donated $40 million to Scottish researchers trying to create a cow that can thrive in hotter conditions, such as those in Africa:
Tweaking genes could be one way of increasing the hardiness of some livestock breeds. By isolating desirable genetics traits from European and African cow breeds, geneticists hope to design a cow that produces high quantities of milk and is also able to withstand exceptionally high temperatures.
An Edinburgh-based nonprofit, GALVmed (Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines) just received $40 million from Bill Gates to conduct genetic research with this aim in mind. "You can have a cow that is four times as productive with the same survivability," Gates told the Times.
The philanthropist told the BBC that he was investing in the nonprofit's research because "there is great [...] understanding here of both animal diseases and how we can treat it, and how we enhance the genetics so that you can get, say the same type of milk or egg productivity that we have in the U.K."
Related: Bill Gates Commits $100 Million to Alzheimer's Research
Bill Gates Invests $80 Million in Arizona "Smart City"
Bill Gates Looks to Immunotherapy to Help Control All Infectious Diseases
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:00PM (2 children)
"...and how we enhance the genetics so that you can get, say the same type of milk or egg productivity that we have in the U.K."
I think I'll stick with hen eggs, those cow eggs are a bit grassy.
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Friday February 02 2018, @04:05AM
Hey, it's fiber and protein in one, and a single cow-egg omelet is enough to feed the whole team!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @10:52AM
This is a Billy Gatesie article about genetically modified cows.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:28PM (18 children)
Temp regulation is some function of surface to volume ratio. Unless it's a really skinny cow, this is going to be similar for any cow shaped animal and I doubt that they will be able to design in much additional heat resistance. Larger animals must have special adaptations for cooling... (which I'm not familiar with).
(Score: 4, Funny) by KiloByte on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:35PM (2 children)
Thus, decrease this ratio. The optimal cow is spherical.
Ceterum censeo systemd esse delendam.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:51PM
Conveniently, the optimal milk preservation is in a 0K vacuum.
Who said physicists didn't have practical applications?
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @02:06AM
Wrong sign -- spherical has the least surface to volume ratio. For cooling you want more surface area and/or less volume -- that's why heat sinks have lots of thin fins.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by tftp on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:36PM (1 child)
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @05:09AM
Yup. African elephants in particular.
Runner up in the ears department is the desert fox. [google.com]
(Its overall small size is a good design as well.)
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 3, Funny) by takyon on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:36PM
They will create spherical cows.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 3, Interesting) by linkdude64 on Friday February 02 2018, @12:03AM
Obviously they're trying to engineer the cow to grow its own radiator ports for its circulatory system.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Friday February 02 2018, @01:12AM (7 children)
Well maybe the cows gain the mad desire to join the Wildebeests in a romp in the river.
Would that be so bad.
I really don't understand why a milk cow has to weigh 1,400 – 2,000 lbs to stand in a field all day, when a Wildebeest can run half way across Africa in giant herds and each one weighs in at only 260 – 600 lbs.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by acid andy on Friday February 02 2018, @01:44AM (4 children)
I really don't think the cows understand why either. I think the dairy herds are still bred to be eaten.
If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @05:17AM (3 children)
Well, if you are eating veal, it's likely a male born on a dairy farm.
Dairy cows that have ended their value WRT producing milk are likely to turn up in hot dogs, baloney, and dog food.
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by acid andy on Friday February 02 2018, @03:38PM (2 children)
After decades of public awareness and campaigning, I can't believe they're still doing that barabaric shit. Sometimes I'm ashamed to be human.
If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @04:25PM (1 child)
Only takes one bull to service a herd of milk cows, the dairy farmers have to do something with the male calves. Visited a dairy a few years ago and the farmer's comment was that his bull was getting lazy (old), time to raise a new one.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @06:58PM
eating them is one thing. chaining them down is quite another. no excuse for that shit.
(Score: 3, Informative) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Friday February 02 2018, @04:12AM
Aurochs were huge
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 3, Funny) by captain normal on Friday February 02 2018, @04:45AM
Ever try to milk a Wildebeest? Cows are easy, not to sure about wildebeests.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--
(Score: 4, Informative) by ese002 on Friday February 02 2018, @02:59AM
Since Cape Buffalo are essentially large cows adapted to high temperatures, the problem does seem to be solvable. The usual ways that large herbivores cool themselves is by circulating blood through their nose where it meets cool area brought in through breathing. Cape buffalo do seem to have broader snouts than domesticated cows.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Immerman on Friday February 02 2018, @04:11AM
There's at least two different approaches to withstand higher temperatures:
1) Radiate heat better: big noses or ears with high blood flow, less fur, etc.
2) Tolerate a higher body temperature. For example a camel's body temperature normally fluctuates between about 34C at dawn to 40C by sunset,
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 06 2018, @02:57AM
Large crocodiles weigh almost as much as cows but don't need to eat very much.
The issue is tuning down the metabolism with a "global tunable" is likely to reduce the milk production as well.
But not having to eat much is fairly important it's not like you'd want to turn more grasslands and forests into deserts in Africa.
(Score: 2) by acid andy on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:59PM (8 children)
Then, sometime later:
GALVmed ScanMoo
____________________________________________________________________________
Because this bovinian was not properly shut down,
one or more of your udders may have errors on it.
To avoid seeing this message again, always shut down
your cow by gently singing it a lullaby in a spacious,
air conditioned barn.
Or move back to a colder country already and take your
poor, twisted Frankenmoos with you!
If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @12:03AM (3 children)
Frankenmoos r ppl 2
eat mor chikin
(Score: 2) by acid andy on Friday February 02 2018, @12:06AM (2 children)
Chikins r ppl 2
eat more Soylent
If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @02:08AM (1 child)
Soylent r ppl.
I guess we all starve.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @02:11AM
All the headers in this web format ruin the beauty of a nice cascade.
In case you don't understand, try this page: https://kb.iu.edu/d/afhb [iu.edu]
(Score: 1) by tftp on Friday February 02 2018, @12:28AM (1 child)
(Score: 2) by acid andy on Friday February 02 2018, @12:33AM
That's true. I don't remember Win95 boxes having too many natural predators. Maybe the odd one got carried off by a golden eagle. Or dropped from a great height by a disgruntled sys admin.
If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Gaaark on Friday February 02 2018, @12:34AM (1 child)
Frankenmoos
\ ^__^
\ (oo)\_______
(__)\ )\/\
||----w |
|| ||
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @10:59AM
For the uninitiated https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowsay [wikipedia.org]
Also, apt-get --help|grep Cow
and then apt-get moo
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Friday February 02 2018, @12:42AM (4 children)
Can you grow cow food in Africa? You know, nutritious grass, clover, hay, mad cow brains? Or is it too hot?
Will they have to genetically modify the grass, clover, hay and mad cow brains so they can withstand the heat? Why not just modify the cows so they can fly? Lots of empty air space up there and they could just fly around until they go to a place where the temperature was 'Just Right'.
Then, we could all just walk around with rain hats on (and neck braces to absorb the impact) or use umbrellies... or just genetically modify humans to withstand the impact of 'dropped bombs'.
Things would smell better down here as well, as the methane would just rise up (unless there are a lot of down swells of air: IANAWeatherman).
Flying cows, i think, would solve ALL the worlds problems.
Mr. Billy...could you give me $40millions so i can make flying cows? Whassat? What's that about when pigs are flying? I can do that too, but i'd need more money......
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 4, Informative) by takyon on Friday February 02 2018, @12:47AM (3 children)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nguni_cattle [wikipedia.org]
African Indigenous Cattle: Unique Genetic Resources in a Rapidly Changing World [nih.gov]
Securing the future of cattle production in Africa [nottingham.ac.uk]
The genome landscape of indigenous African cattle [biomedcentral.com]
Cash cows: Why investors are buying pregnant cattle [cnn.com]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @12:55AM (1 child)
Then why not use those "pre-modified for africa" cows? Is it because they are not patentable?
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Friday February 02 2018, @01:01AM
From the summary:
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 5, Interesting) by captain normal on Friday February 02 2018, @05:04AM
Uh...Mr Gates, I already know the answer. There is a bovine that can thrive in temps up to 115 F (46 C), can eat scrub grasses and only needs a little bit of water. It's called the White Face Hereford. People have been raising them for many years in hot places like West Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. The cows produce very good milk and the Steers (young bulls that have had their balls removed) provide wonderful meat.
You can just donate a small portion of the $40 M to my favorite charity: Elderly Captain's Retirement and Cruising Fund.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Friday February 02 2018, @01:20AM
https://youtu.be/FQMbXvn2RNI [youtu.be]
Moo!
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 4, Interesting) by inertnet on Friday February 02 2018, @01:29AM (4 children)
Maybe it would be more useful if they tried to genetically reduce methane production, which is likely a factor in causing that warmer climate that Bill's cows would thrive in.
(Score: 2) by canopic jug on Friday February 02 2018, @07:24AM
Or they could add more teats for a total of six or eight. Four cannot handle the output of the udders they've bred into today's cows. The udders already drag on the ground. More teats would be needed if output is to be further increased. Much of the agricultural antibiotic abuse on dairy farms is due to infections there.
Money is not free speech. Elections should not be auctions.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by therainingmonkey on Friday February 02 2018, @09:35AM (2 children)
I have a friend who works in this field. Apparently adding garlic to the cow feed dramatically reduces the amount of methane they produce, unfortunately their milk then tastes like garlic.
I believe those "odourless garlic" tablets you see were a spinoff from his research efforts.
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Friday February 02 2018, @07:17PM (1 child)
Apparently adding garlic to the cow feed dramatically reduces the amount of methane they produce
Seaweed's been in the news recently for similar research. [nationalgeographic.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @07:58PM
Also activated charcoal as well, though that may mainly help with the side-effects of a grain diet not the belching ...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @10:55AM
Microsoft spends profits on cows.
Drunk students push cows over.
Students graduate.
Students go to work for corporation.
Corporation overpays for Microsoft products.
Microsoft spends profits on cows...
(Score: 2) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Friday February 02 2018, @04:52PM (1 child)
Wouldn't it be easier to just breed better camels?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @07:53PM
You are on the right track, Bill Gates is spending $40 million to discover Indicine Cattle ...