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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."
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(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 ...