Forget giving up the cars. Looks like we'll have to go vegetarian: While the Irish Republic and Denmark forge ahead with plans to introduce a "flatulence tax" on cattle ? much to the disgust of farmers in both countries ? UK farmers are bracing themselves for a similar move. According to the United Nation's Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), livestock is responsible for 18 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions that are thought to contribute to climate change. A cow emits as much as four tons of methane each year through burps and farts compared to 2.7 tons of carbon dioxide emitted by the average car. The mooted tax of ?75 per cow would decimate the UK beef and dairy industry, which is already under strain from cheap milk and meat imports. Farmers, however, are being encouraged to experiment with alternative diets to improve the digestive systems of their animals and stave off bovine flatulence ? and the accompanying tax.* *The Telegraph