British cows could be given ‘methane blockers’ to cut climate emissions

Most of the methane emitted by cattle results from belching, or ‘the front end not the back end’, according to the NFU’s Tom Bradshaw. Photograph: Yon Marsh/Alamy

Cows in the UK could be given “methane blockers” to reduce their emissions of the greenhouse gas as part of plans to achieve the country’s climate goals.

Farmers welcomed the proposal, which follows a consultation that began in August on how new types of animal feed product can reduce digestive emissions from the animals.