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Cow: Article Analysis

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Article Analysis 3: Cows Cows provide a huge portion of the foods we consume daily. Their health and effect on the environment is very important to scientists and to us. It is not easy to keep large herds of cattle healthy, in good shape and out of harms way which is why the research that is done on them is crucial. It is important to identify their diseases, their best diet and how to keep them clean. In the first article written by Kathiann Kowalski titled Cool jobs: Crazy about cows, we are introduced into the world of cows with a reminder of how important they are and the effects they have on our lives. The first part is Dr. Orsel who specializes in investigating illnesses between cows. She explains that since animals try to hide their …show more content…

The goal was to find a good use for all the waste that come from cow manure to not only help the farmers gain more money but to also help the environment. Dr.Kirk has been looking for ways to turn this manure into biogas. Biogas is gas produced by a biological process, which can contain methane, carbon dioxide and other chemicals. A biogas can be burned for energy. Dr.Kirk uses anaerobic, oxygen free, digestion to create them. They are basically creating an extension of the cow’s stomach. Since manure is digested food, most of the energy of the food has been consumed but microbes, which are living things that can not be spotted with the naked eye such as bacteria, break the wastes down to get even more energy. They can be harnessed as fuel. When a biogas is burned, it can produce steam and electricity. The methane in them, when processed more, can be turned into fuel. Many wastes are used to create a lot of electricity, even waste from school cafeterias. This lowers the cost of electricity and is extremely efficient. Kirk’s team has been trying to add a solar collector. Heat from the can can rise temperature of a digester at levels that is best for microbes. They are also looking at ways to better use manure as a fertilizer which can not only help the environment but it would cut the cost of fertilizers while raising their quality. Manure’s contain phosphorus and too much of that in the rain can lead to harmful algal blooms. Algae can poison water or clog water-treatment plants. Therefore, keeping manure off the ground and putting it to good use can also help clean up water enough for a cow to drink. In the article written by Russ White and Hannah Watts titled MSU Leading Advancement in Anaerobic Digestion Technology published on MLive.com explains how the technology that Dr.Kirk uses, anaerobic digestion, is the biological process of breaking down organic waste using naturally occurring microorganisms.

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