While I don't dispute that ruminants produce methane and, thus, contribute to carbon in the atmosphere and, hence, climate change, I'm not sure that their contribution is as dire as some vegans would have us believe.
Ruminants include cattle, bison, buffalo, yak, gaur, antelope, deer, giraffe, okapi, sheep (domestic and wild species) and goats (domestic and wild species). Camels (including the South American llamas, etc) are pseudoruminants and don't produce as much methane as true ruminants. Most non-ruminant herbivores like horses and zebra produce methane but in more modest amounts. Other non-ruminant herbivores, like elehants and hippopotamus, produce enormous amounts of methane because of the vast quantities of methane they consume.
Vast migratory herds of methane producing herbivores roamed every continent except Australia and Antarctica until they were either slaughtered by humans or replaced in part by domesticated or semi-domesticated versions of the original herbivores. I don't think that I have ever seen a study that compares pre- and post-agricultural herbivore numbers and the relative quantities of methane produced by domesticated and wild herbivores.
Eat less meat because it's good for the planet seems to me to be an unscientific attempt to force a vegan diet on naturally omnivorous humanity.
Ruminants include cattle, bison, buffalo, yak, gaur, antelope, deer, giraffe, okapi, sheep (domestic and wild species) and goats (domestic and wild species). Camels (including the South American llamas, etc) are pseudoruminants and don't produce as much methane as true ruminants. Most non-ruminant herbivores like horses and zebra produce methane but in more modest amounts. Other non-ruminant herbivores, like elehants and hippopotamus, produce enormous amounts of methane because of the vast quantities of methane they consume.
Vast migratory herds of methane producing herbivores roamed every continent except Australia and Antarctica until they were either slaughtered by humans or replaced in part by domesticated or semi-domesticated versions of the original herbivores. I don't think that I have ever seen a study that compares pre- and post-agricultural herbivore numbers and the relative quantities of methane produced by domesticated and wild herbivores.
Eat less meat because it's good for the planet seems to me to be an unscientific attempt to force a vegan diet on naturally omnivorous humanity.
“Why don’t you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don’t you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don’t you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?” Oddball