I am not concerned with or about the small time rancher as I am very sure they won't be required to do this nor will they. I would bet heavily that the very large concentrated feed lots may well use these as they are targets for many with their concentrations and with a 4-year life span the masks will be able to be used on 4 different steers and that is just for methane reduction. There is no need to GPS a feed lot or get them bred as the males are steers and the females get enough steroids etc. that they many not even cycle and all the freemartins get fed out anyway.
As to those that say there were far more buffalo in the USA then cattle today that is not factual at all. The best estimates are that there were 30-35 million buffalo in the USA prior to the 1860s. In 2020 there is an estimated 94-95 million beef and dairy cows, bulls and calves in the USA. I am not stating this to further that methane is a serious problem, I am stating this because those that believe we have far less bovines on the landscape are not correct.
It is not the cow farts that release the bulk of the methane it is the chewing of the cud as the cow regurgitates what she quickly ate and then grind it up and re-swallow. The cos does not release methane while eating or grazing they do that when they chew their cud. If it is a smart mask it could work. Quite likely not practical or probable but the scientists that developed it are not as ignorant about cows and cattle as many of you seem to be.
Bryce
Last edited by bblwi; 06/11/21 09:23 PM.