Author:
Hegarty R. S.,Klieve A. V.
Abstract
Methane is a major waste product from ruminants, contributing 53% of
Australia's total emissions of the gas. Arange of chemical inhibitors of
methanogenesis are known to be effective but the real and perceived risks to
the environment and health from chemical residues may curtail widespread
application of these products in ruminant industries. As with other
agricultural industries, future control of unwanted organisms (such as
methanogens) is likely to lie with biocontrol agents rather than with
chemicals. Opportunities exist for biological reduction of rumen methane
emissions using direct means (viruses and bacteriocins specific to
methanogens), and indirectly through the elimination of rumen protozoa which
symbiotically support some rumen methanogens. The feasibility of these
approaches and their current research position are discussed. The most
promising work to date is using the common food preservative, nisin (a safe
and naturally occurring bacteriocin). When ruminal contents were incubated
with nisin in vitro, methane emissions were reduced by
36%.
Subject
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Cited by
45 articles.
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