• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.157-163
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• 1997

This paper analyses a number of important areas relating to methane production in ruminants, consequent hazards and different methods of reducing this gas. Clearly methane not only affects on the environment but also on the economy of animal production. Several factors including feed, species, microbes, rumen environment, etc. are responsible for methane production in animals. Although methane production can be reduced by chemical manipulation, defaunation and strategic feeding, the latter was found to be effective because the method is easier to follow than the others. Furthermore, feeding technology could play an important role in reducing methane production particularly in developing countries because of its relative cost effectiveness. however, it needs to compare to what extent it could reduce methane production as well as cost of animal production. Therefore, research program needs to be concentrated on the appropriate feeding system to reduce methane production, consequently pollution and cost of production particularly in developing countries.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2_spc
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• pp.360-369
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• 2024

Ruminal methane production functions as the main sink for metabolic hydrogen generated through rumen fermentation and is recognized as a considerable source of greenhouse gas emissions. Methane production is a complex trait affected by dry matter intake, feed composition, rumen microbiota and their fermentation, lactation stage, host genetics, and environmental factors. Various mitigation approaches have been proposed. Because individual ruminants exhibit different methane conversion efficiencies, the microbial characteristics of low-methane-emitting animals can be essential for successful rumen manipulation and environment-friendly methane mitigation. Several bacterial species, including Sharpea, uncharacterized Succinivibrionaceae, and certain Prevotella phylotypes have been listed as key players in low-methane-emitting sheep and cows. The functional characteristics of the unclassified bacteria remain unclear, as they are yet to be cultured. Here, we review ruminal methane production and mitigation strategies, focusing on rumen fermentation and the functional role of rumen microbiota, and describe the phylogenetic and physiological characteristics of a novel Prevotella species recently isolated from low methane-emitting and high propionate-producing cows. This review may help to provide a better understanding of the ruminal digestion process and rumen function to identify holistic and environmentally friendly methane mitigation approaches for sustainable ruminant production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1143-1150
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate in vitro methane production of feed ingredients and relationship between the content of crude nutrients and methane production. Feed ingredients (total 26) were grouped as grains (5 ingredients), brans and hulls (8), oil seed meals (9) roughages (3), and animal by-product (1) from their nutrient composition and their methane production protential were measured by in vitro gas test. Among the groups, the in vitro methane productions for both 6 and 24 h incubation were highest in grains, followed by brans and hulls, oil meals and roughages, animal byproducts. Within the group of grains, methane production from wheat flour was the highest, followed by wheat, corn, tapioca, and then oat. Within the brans and hulls, soybean hull showed the highest methane production and cotton seed hull, the lowest. Methane production from oil meals was lower compared with grains and brans and hulls, and in decreasing order production from canola meal was followed by soybean meal, coconut meal, and corn germ meal (p<0.01). Three ingredients were selected and the interactions among feed ingredients were evaluated for methane production. Correlation coefficient between measured and estimated values of the combinations were 0.91. Methane production from each feed ingredient was decreased with increasing amount of crude fiber (CF), protein (CP) and ether extract (EE), whereas positive relationship was noted with the concentrations of N-free extract (NFE). The multiple regression equation (n=134) for methane production and nutrient concentrations was as follows. Methane production (ml/0.2 g DM)=(0.032${\times}$CP)-(0.057${\times}$EE)-(0.012${\times}$CF)+(0.124${\times}$NFE) (p<0.01; $R^2$=0.929). Positive relationship was noted for CP and NFE and negative relationship for CF and EE. It seems possible to predict methane production potential from nutritional composition of the ingredients for their effective application on formulating less methane emitting rations.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.807-813
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• 2016

Two experiments were conducted assessing the effects of presence or absence of rumen protozoa and dietary nitrate addition on rumen fermentation characteristics and in vitro methane production in Brahman heifers. The first experiment assessed changes in rumen fermentation pattern and in vitro methane production post-refaunation and the second experiment investigated whether addition of nitrate to the incubation would give rise to methane mitigation additional to that contributed by defaunation. Ten Brahman heifers were progressively adapted to a diet containing 4.5% coconut oil distillate for 18 d and then all heifers were defaunated using sodium 1-(2-sulfonatooxyethoxy) dodecane (Empicol). After 15 d, the heifers were given a second dose of Empicol. Fifteen days after the second dosing, all heifers were allocated to defaunated or refaunated groups by stratified randomisation, and the experiment commenced (d 0). On d 0, an oral dose of rumen fluid collected from unrelated faunated cattle was used to inoculate 5 heifers and form a refaunated group so that the effects of re-establishment of protozoa on fermentation characteristics could be investigated. Samples of rumen fluid collected from each animal using oesophageal intubation before feeding on d 0, 7, 14, and 21 were incubated for in vitro methane production. On d 35, 2% nitrate (as $NaNO_3$) was included in in vitro incubations to test for additivity of nitrate and absence of protozoa effects on fermentation and methane production. It was concluded that increasing protozoal numbers were associated with increased methane production in refaunated heifers 7, 14, and 21 d after refaunation. Methane production rate was significantly higher from refaunated heifers than from defaunated heifers 35 d after refaunation. Concentration and proportions of major volatile fatty acids, however, were not affected by protozoal treatments. There is scope for further reducing methane output through combining defaunation and dietary nitrate as the addition of nitrate in the defaunated heifers resulted in 86% reduction in methane production in vitro.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1049-1056
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• 2007

This study was conducted to compare the methane ($CH_4$) production estimated by in vivo (sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique ($SF_6$)) with that of two in vitro rumen simulation (RUSITEC) and gas production (IVGPT)) techniques. Four adult dry Holstein cows, aged $7.4{\pm}3.0$ years and weighing $697{\pm}70$ kg, were used for measuring methane production from five diets by the $SF_6$ technique. The experimental diets were alfalfa hay ($D_1$), corn silage + soybean meal (SBM) (910: 90, $D_2$), Italian rye grass hay +SBM (920: 80, $D_3$), rice straw +SBM (910: 90, $D_4$) and Sudan grass hay +SBM (920: 80, $D_5$). Each diet was individually fed to all 4 cows and 5 feeding studies of 17 d each were conducted to measure the methane production. In the RUSITEC, methane production was measured from triplicate vessels for each diet .In vitro gas production was measured for each of the diets in triplicate syringes. The gas produced after 24 and 48 h was recorded and gas samples were collected in vacuum vials and the methane production was calculated after correction for standard temperature and pressure (STP). Compared to the $SF_6$ technique, estimates of methane production using the RUSITEC were lower for all diets. Methane production estimated from 24 h in vitro gas production was higher (p<0.001) on $D_1$ as compared to that measured by $SF_6$, whereas on $D_2$ to $D_5$ it was lower. Compared to $SF_6$, methane production estimated from 48 h in vitro gas production was higher on all diets. However, methane estimated from the mean of the two measurement intervals (24+48 h/2) in IVGPT was very close to that of $SF_6$ (correlation 0.98), except on $D_1$. The results of our study confirmed that IVGPT is reflective of in vivo conditions, so that it could be used to generate a database on methane production potential of various ruminant diets and to examine strategies to modify methane emissions by ruminants.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.473-478
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to look for the optimal conditions of methane production. The conditions tested for methane production enhancement were temperature, pH, carbon source, nitrogen source, and inhibitor which can affects methane production. As a result, optimal conditions for methane production were 30$^{\circ}C$, neutral pH, methanol as a carbon source, NH$_4$Cl as a nitrogen source. 2-Bromoethanesulfonic acid was used as an inhibitor which can affects methane production. Existence in broth less than 10mM, inhibited methane production. Organic acid measurements revealed that formic acid exists in broth as majority.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.952-959
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of 11 active compounds of essential oils (ACEO) on rumen fermentation characteristics and methane production. Two trials were conducted. In trial 1, ACEO (eugenol, carvacrol, citral, limonene, 1,4-cineole, p-cymene, linalool, bornyl acetate, ${\alpha}$-pinene, and ${\beta}$-pinene) at a dose of $1,000{\mu}L/L$ were incubated for 24 h in diluted rumen fluid with a 70:30 forage:concentrate substrate (16.2% crude protein; 36.6% neutral detergent fiber). Three fistulated Holstein cows were used as donors of rumen fluid. The reduction in methane production was observed with nine ACEO (up to 86% reduction) compared with the control (p<0.05). Among these, only limonene, 1,4-cineole, bornyl acetate, and ${\alpha}$-pinene did not inhibit volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, and only bornyl acetate produced less methane per mol of VFA compared with the control (p<0.05). In a subsequent trial, the effects on rumen fermentation and methane production of two concentrations (500 and $2,000{\mu}L/L$) of bornyl acetate, the most promising ACEO from the first trial, were evaluated using the same in vitro incubation method that was used in the first trial. In trial 2, monensin was used as a positive control. Both doses of bornyl acetate decreased (p<0.05) methane production and did not inhibit VFA production. Positive effects of bornyl acetate on methane and VFA production were more pronounced than the effects of monensin. These results confirm the ability of bornyl acetate to decrease methane production, which may help to improve the efficiency of energy use in the rumen.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2008

Anaerobic co-digestion of swine manure and food waste for biogas production was performed in serum bottles at 2% volatile solids(VS) concentration and various mixing ratios of two substrates(swine manure: food waste = 100 : 0 $\sim$ 0 : 100). Through kinetic mode of surface methodology, the methane production was fitted to a Gompertz equation. The specific methane production potential of swine manure alone was lower than that of food waste. However, maximum methane production potential increased up to 1.09-1.22% as food waste composition increased up to the 80%. The maximum methane production value of food waste was 544.52 mL/g VS. It was observed that the maximum methane production potential of 601.86 mL/g VS was found at the mixing ratio of 40:60.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.182-192
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• 2022

This study provides an overview of the production costs of methane and hydrogen via water electrolysis-based hydrogen production followed by a methanation based methane production technology utilizing CO₂ from external sources. The study shows a comparative way for economic optimization of green methane generation using excess free electricity from renewable sources. The study initially developed the overall process on the Aspen Plus simulation tool. Aspen Plus estimated the capital expenditure for most of the equipment except for the methanation reactor and electrolyzer. The capital expenditure, the operating expenditure and the feed cost were used in a discounted cash flow based economic model for the methane production cost estimation. The study compared different reactor configurations as well. The same model was also used for a hydrogen production cost estimation. The optimized economic model estimated a methane production cost of $11.22/mcf when the plant is operating for 4000 hr/year and electricity is available for zero cost. Furthermore, a hydrogen production cost of $2.45/GJ was obtained. A sensitivity analysis was performed for the methane production cost as the electrolyzer cost varies across different electrolyzer types. A sensitivity study was also performed for the changing electricity cost, the number of operation hours per year and the plant capacity. The estimated levelized cost of methane (LCOM) in this study was less than or comparable with the existing studies available in the literature.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Hypoxia can affect water-atmosphere methane flux by controlling the production and consumption processes of methane in coastal areas. Seasonal methane concentration and fluxes were quantified to evaluate the effects of seasonal hypoxia in Dangdong Bay (Gyeongsangnamdo, Jinhae Bay, South Korea). Sediment-water methane flux increased more than 300 times during hypoxia (normoxia and hypoxia each 6, 1900 µmol m^-2 d^-1), and water-atmospheric methane flux and bottom methane concentration increased about 2, 10 times (normoxia and hypoxia each 190, 420 µmol m^-2 d^-1; normoxia and hypoxia each 22, 230 nM). Shoaling of anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in the sediments during the hypoxia (August) was confirmed by the change of the depth at which the maximum hydrogen sulfide concentration was detected. Shoaling shortens the distance between the water column and methanogenesis section to facilitate the inflow of organic matter, which can lead to an increase in methane production. In addition, since the transport distance of the generated methane to the water column is shortened, consumption of methane will be reduced. The combination of increased production and reduced consumption could increase sediment-aqueous methane flux and dissolved methane, which is thought to result in an increase in water-atmospheric methane flux. We could not observe the emission of methane accumulated during the hypoxia due to stratification, so it is possible that the estimated methane flux to the atmosphere was underestimated. In this study, the increase in methane flux in the coastal area due to hypoxia was confirmed, and the necessity of future methane production studies according to oxygen conditions in various coastal areas was demonstratedshown in the future.