Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Catalytic fart flaps for cows

Catalytic fart flaps for cows for reduction of greenhouse gas
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A flap would hang from the tail over the anus of a cow for the purpose of converting the methane into less harmful gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, oxygen). The flap would need to be a flap so that it can be pushed out of the way when more solid stuff comes out. It would not work perfectly, but it would eliminate some greenhouse gases. The flap would need to pass gases through, and through a catalytic process, convert as much of the methane as possible. Some of the problems would be: What would be the catalyst? Platinum group metals, which are used as catalysts, are expensive. Motivating farmers to put them on their cows.
Frostybeard, Mar 28 2004

Why just scrub the methane? http://www.halfbake...m/idea/power_20cows
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Oct 05 2004]

Or you could always put a hole in 'em http://jwz.livejournal.com/304213.html
holey cow... [RayfordSteele, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

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       "The flap would need to be a flap... "   

       Heh. Profound.
bristolz, Mar 28 2004
  

       Or a crapalytic converter
Mungo, Mar 28 2004
  

       Cattle-itic converter.
pjd, Mar 29 2004
  

       Years ago, my Father gave me a challenge. "You may be smart, son, but you can't put windshield wipers on a Billy Goat's Butt." he would say.   

       After a while, though, I solved the problem. I explained to him the windshield wipers would be methane powered and you'd feed the Billy Goat beans.   

       Now I have to go buy a goat, some windshield wipers, straps, a leash, etc. And Beans, of course.
Jkirk3279, May 02 2004
  

       A small ignition device (perhaps piezo- electric and driven by sphinctral oscillations) would achieve the same result much more entertainingly. And it would help you find your cows in the dark.
Basepair, Feb 20 2005
  

       {Baespair] what if the cows were afraid of fire? That And forest fires could start in dry places. Hehe, I can just imagine the news reports: Reporter: A forest fire killed 3 people today because someone put a lighter near their cow's butt and he farted. Back to Todd with sports.
lions8, Jan 04 2007
  

       [Basepair] // A small ignition device // Hehe. This would be fun to watch at night. Whoof! There goes Bessy!
MoreCowbell, Jan 04 2007
  
      
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