What is the main reason why raising cattle contributes to global warming?(1 point)
Responses
Cattle have microbes in their stomach that produce methane during digestion.
Cattle have microbes in their stomach that produce methane during digestion.
Cattle store nitrogen, which is released as nitrous oxide as they die.
Cattle store nitrogen, which is released as nitrous oxide as they die.
Cattle release carbon dioxide as they breathe, similar to humans.
Cattle release carbon dioxide as they breathe, similar to humans.
Cattle eat grass, which reduces the amount of plants that remove atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Cattle have microbes in their stomach that produce methane during digestion.
The main reason why raising cattle contributes to global warming is that cattle have microbes in their stomach that produce methane during digestion. When cows eat and digest food, the microbes in their stomach break down the food and produce methane gas as a byproduct. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is about 25 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Therefore, the methane emissions from cattle significantly contribute to global warming.
To get this answer, one can understand the process of cattle digestion and its impact on methane emissions. It is important to note that cattle release carbon dioxide as they breathe, but its contribution to global warming is much smaller compared to methane. Additionally, while cattle do store nitrogen, the release of nitrous oxide upon their death is not the primary reason for their contribution to global warming. It's also worth mentioning that cattle grazing can impact carbon dioxide levels indirectly by reducing the amount of plants, like grass, that remove atmospheric carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.