ABC 30 News, a San Joaquin Valley TV news program, ran a story yesterday about work done at UC Davis by professor Frank Mitloehner to study the effects of dairy production on air quality.
The research, according to the reporter, "won't clear the air, but it may help clear up some misconceptions."
In conducting his research, Mitloehner kept dairy cattle inside bubbles and closely monitored the air going in and the air coming out.
"See this here, methanol, ethanol, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and methane is measured continuously," Mitloehner said, according to a transcript of the story on the ABC30 Web site.
The story said Mithoehner has found that cows pass gas from both ends.
"And these gases do come out through the mouth. We know that belching is the main source of methane from cows," said Mitloehner.
The study is now complete and the results will be published in about five months, according to the report. The TV reporter promised to bring viewers the results when they are available.