USDA scientists use cow stomachs in biofuel testing

Biofuel testing at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) included cow stomachs recently as scientists looked at the organ as a novel source for genetic material.

A group of enzymes, feruloyl esterases, have previously been included in biofuel testing as a useful element in breaking down polymers in organic materials.

USDA's Dominic Wong collected the enzymes from cow rumens, the first stage in the beasts' alimentary canals.

His study involved harvesting microbes from the rumens, then extracting those which produce feruloyl esterases.

These may be effective in breaking down plant fibres to create sugars, which can then be converted into biofuel, making plant matter from switchgrass and corn an effective energy source.

USDA previously noted the dual environmental benefits of growing crops for use in biofuel production.

Switchgrass and hybrid poplar were chosen as the most eco-friendly options due to their ability to remove carbon dioxide from the air and store it in their root structure.