Ear-A-Round headsets keep tabs on cows, make farming easier

In no way are we insinuating that farming is ever "easy," but a new headset designed for cows could make cattle herding a much less stressful experience. The Ear-A-Round headsets are the product of a project involving the USDA and MIT, and essentially, the GPS-infused devices would transmit stereo sounds directly in a bovine's ears in order to guide and direct his / her movements. Strange though the head-worn gizmos may look, the built-in solar panel should keep it juiced up and ready to dictate on command, giving farmers the ability to track and herd from the comfort of their computer desks. The overriding goal here is to "improve animal distribution on the landscape," though we can think of quite a few other positives to having such a robust virtual fencing system.

[Via Core77]

[GoVeganSaveEarth @ Aug 6th 2008 8:27AM]

Why are we even wasting time trying to make animal farming easier? Methane emissions from livestock account for about a quarter of the methane – a greenhouse gas 20 times more powerful at driving global warming than carbon dioxide.

[Rory W @ Aug 6th 2008 9:08AM]

Because cows taste good!

[Rory W @ Aug 6th 2008 9:09AM]

Because cows taste good!

[GoVegan @ Aug 6th 2008 9:19AM]

Well there are delicious and healthy alternatives that don't cost the earth or anyone's life.
http://www.amys.com/products/category_view.php?prod_category=1

[LiqwidZero @ Aug 6th 2008 9:25AM]

I agree. Cows do taste good!

I fart as much as a cow, I suppose that means I'm bad for the environment, eh? Are you suggesting a cow genocide, because that's what it sounds like?

[LiqwidZero @ Aug 6th 2008 9:26AM]

My school gave us veggie burgers one year, they were terrible. And the school hasn't sold them since.

[mymaclife @ Aug 6th 2008 9:51AM]

@ GoVegan

For every animal you don't eat, I'll eat three.

[mymaclife @ Aug 6th 2008 9:52AM]

@ Liquid

But vegans taste better!

[ngamer007 @ Aug 6th 2008 10:17AM]

All I heard was "wahh don't kill the animals." And now that this green BS is all the rage, they're using the methane arguement too? Ugh, it's almost unbearable having to listen to these annoying vegetarians.

Cow is simply one of the best tasting things out there. Also, milk, cheese, ice cream, all those things kick ass too. That vegan food tastes terrible, they should ban it, it wastes supermarket space that could be used for more bacon choices.

[GoVegan @ Aug 6th 2008 10:30AM]

@ngamer007

I take it you mean vegans when you wrote "they're using the methane arguement too", well according to a 2006 United Nations initiative, the livestock industry is one of the largest contributors to environmental degradation worldwide, and modern practices of raising animals for food contributes on a "massive scale" to deforestation, air and water pollution, land degradation, loss of topsoil, climate change, the overuse of resources including oil and water, and loss of biodiversity. The initiative concluded that "the livestock sector emerges as one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global."

More info can be found here: http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000448/index.html

[Tek Gremlin @ Aug 6th 2008 11:07AM]

Dear GoVegan,

Well Methane like all green house gasses is a cause for concern I think you forgot to mention a few facts, some which also come from that report you sight.

Although Methane has a higher potential for damage per molecule than CO2, it also has a much shorter atmospheric lifetime and is produced in much smaller quantities. This means in total CO2 really is a much more significant threat.

Regarding Livestock production, Although no doubt a serious environmental threat, livestock production is also provides "livelihoods to about 1.3 billion" not to mention "about 40 percent to global agricultural output", so when you compare that to other environmentally destructive human activities there most certainly is a significant benefit to be garnered

I find it especially odd though that you would sight a report that instead of recommending your extreme solution (I assume Veganism is the goal) provides other recommendations far more along the lines of the device mentioned in the original argument. So essentially you attempted to use a report that says people should do this sort of thing more, to argue they should do it less.

[TavisJohn @ Aug 6th 2008 11:55AM]

It is people like you that do not eat meat that make my life harder! If we all ate the cows, than there would be less methane. However when people stop eating meat, than that means that there are more cows alive to produce methane!

So I am doing my part! Do yours, eat a cow!

[GoVegan @ Aug 6th 2008 12:25PM]

@mymaclife

LOL take a look at http://www.meat.org then tell me if you still want to eat three for every one I don't eat.

[mymaclife @ Aug 6th 2008 1:09PM]

Just read it - let's make it 4 then!

[TouchSky @ Aug 7th 2008 10:29AM]

Methane levels have been static for over a decade.
Global Temperature is dropping.
CO2 makes plants grow better.

Beef, its whats for dinner...

[jvandervalk @ Aug 7th 2008 10:35AM]

Woot, a fellow vegan gadget lover!

[lol @ Aug 6th 2008 9:12AM]

Wow this new version of Harvest Moon is incredibly lifelike!

[Nestor C. @ Aug 6th 2008 9:27AM]

A2DP over GPS! wow!

[weslawson @ Aug 6th 2008 9:44AM]

GoVeganSaveEarth? Go read up on stuff before posting the same old argument in the comments section. When you have a better argument..come back until then go back to the city.

[Shane @ Aug 6th 2008 10:19AM]

Let the bovine uprising commence!

[Mike @ Aug 6th 2008 10:44AM]

I hope that thing also plays MP3 music files designed to relax the cow and make more tender steak. :)

[GoVegan @ Aug 6th 2008 11:50AM]

@Tek Gremlin

Firstly I think you missed the point of the report despite taking the time to read about it, and continuing to waste energy by channelling it into livestock production is unsustainable and unjustifiable for the 1.3 billion people involved in the livestock sector.

Secondly promoting a diet/lifestyle such as veganism that promotes healthy eating and is also beneficial for the environment is hardly an "extreme solution". Instead I would say that global warming, deforestation, desertification, water pollution and the malnourishment of millions of people as a direct result of meat-intensive diets is clearly an example of extremism. As Albert Einstein apparently said "Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."

[Tek Gremlin @ Aug 6th 2008 5:03PM]

@Vegan

I am pretty sure the point of the report was not "continuing to waste energy by channeling it into livestock production is unsustainable and unjustifiable for the 1.3 billion people involved in the livestock sector"

The point was in fact that it is worth putting efforts into reducing the environmental impact that the livestock industry has. And in fact there is even technology existing today that can have a serious positive impact.

As for promoting a Vegan diet, while this itself is not extreme (although frankly this can be when applied to very young children), claiming that any technology that improves the yield vs environmental damage of one the worlds oldest and most important (20% of the world population depends on it for survival) industries is pointless most certainly is.

[GoVegan @ Aug 6th 2008 9:29PM]

@Tek Gremlin,

I would just like to make the point again that promoting a vegan diet even for children isn't extreme. My child who is nearly four has been vegan since birth, and because of this has never have more that a couple of colds ever whereas other kids are always ill. Also the late Dr. Benjamin Spock (American paediatrician whose book Baby and Child Care is one of the biggest best-sellers of all time) recommended a vegan diet for children too.

[Tek Gremlin @ Aug 7th 2008 2:59AM]

@Vegan

I was under the impression that for babies a Vegan diet was not healthy (don't they need milk to survive). I seem to recall a semi recent case where parents killed ro harmed there baby by refusing it milk. However I admit I am no expert, maybe if it is done correctly it can work.

Myself I have never been tempted to go Vegan as I feel it is an unnatural diet for humans (I am sure you will be tempted to argue this, but you wont convince me I am sure I have heard all the arguments for both sides). I do admit however that I believe a mostly vegetarian diet can be very healthy and that in general people do eat way too much meat.

[victor @ Aug 8th 2008 6:50PM]

The best way to sequester carbon into the soil is by grazing green grass, using a management intensive grazing system. Cows, managed properley improve the environment. Grass fed farms use less fossil fuel, increase soil organic matter, and trap carbon under ground. The health of the livestock is improved as well as the health of carnivores who eat beef.
Fields planted in row crops are susceptible to wind and water erosion while tilling breaks down the soild organic matter and releases its carbon into the atmosphere. The bottom line is we need both to be sustainable. GO GRASS!!

Save A Cow Eat A Vegetarian.

PS. I think using a computer to move cattle is utterly absurd.

[Justin @ Aug 6th 2008 11:56AM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPhWfSeMYHA

[GoVegan @ Aug 6th 2008 12:08PM]

Yes that's a good one, there's also a Matrix anime at http://www.themeatrix1.com/

[gideon1297 @ Aug 6th 2008 4:01PM]

Wow. As hilarious as reading the former posts was, everyone seems to forget what the article was about. But to present another topically irrelevant point, I smell 1984 here. First cows, then humans. Any takers?

[Jc @ Aug 7th 2008 8:15AM]

Concept seems sound, but not really practical. The devices would just end up getting smashed against fences/trees/other cattle, and any remaining solar panels would require regular cleaning. One solution might be to add iTunes support, in which case the cattle may take better care of the device.

[jvandervalk @ Aug 7th 2008 10:39AM]

lol, if only everyone was vegan/vegetarian we wouldn't be contributing to the #1 CAUSE OF WATER POLLUTION.