UK Farmers Put Cows on Special Diet to Help Climate

Farmers across the pond have hit on an interesting way of fighting climate change: They’re feeding their cows a “health food” diet of linseed to make them belch and fart less. And yes, this is the same linseed you see in the natural supplements aisle at health food stores—it’s a digestive aid that promotes good bacteria growth in the stomachs of cows and humans alike, the Telegraph explains.

The seed could reduce the amount of climate-affecting methane cows produce by as much as 40%. It’s “something we take very seriously,” says one dairy farmer. “We work with nature every day and I’m very passionate about the conservation aspect.” Plus, he added, the cows are producing more milk and seem healthier. “They’ve got what we in the industry call ‘shine.’” (More linseed stories.)