Curry fed to sheep could curb global warming

Jul 6th 2010 By Tom Cullen

Scientists have claimed that coriander and turmeric - spices traditionally used to flavour curries - can reduce the amount of methane produced by sheep by up to 40 per cent, thus significantly reducing global warming.

The findings are part of a study by Newcastle University research student Mohammad Mehedi Hasan and Dr Abdul Shakoor Chaudhry who suggest that the two ingredients work like an antibiotic, the spices were found to kill the methane-producing ''bad'' bacteria in the animal's gut while allowing the ''good'' bacteria to flourish.

Mr Hasan told the Telegraph: ''Methane is a major contributor to global warming and the slow digestive system of ruminant animals such as cows and sheep makes them a key producer of the gas.

''What my research found was that certain spices contain properties which make this digestive process more efficient so producing less waste - in this case, methane.''

Odd, then, that last night's curry appears to have done the exact opposite to us.

http://www.asylum.co.uk/2010/07/06/curry-for-sheep-could-curb-global-warming/#ixzz0t0J3SipS