SCIENTISTS reckon they can help save the planet — by breeding sheep who fart less.

The Grass to Gas initiative will see farmers and boffins try to work out how much methane the woolly windbags produce.

2 Scientists want to breed sheep which fart less Credit: Alamy

They will then attempt to create more of the animals who have the least impact on the environment in order to slash greenhouse gases.

Sheep geneticist Nicola Lambe, of Scotland’s Rural College, said: “The project aims to measure feed efficiency and methane emissions from both individual animals and sheep systems.

“This will provide the industry with the means to breed, feed and manage sheep with reduced environmental impact as part of genetic improvement initiatives.”

2 Sheep geneticist Nicola Lambe said they will try to work out how much methane the woolly windbags produce

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The SRUC-led project will see experts compare sheep housed both indoors and at pasture.

Researchers will also look at genetics and breeding methods to find the species that cause the least environmental damage.

The three-year scheme received £250,000 funding.

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