Inhibition of Rumen Methanogenesis by Methane Analogues

Abstract

Extremely low concentrations of chloroform and carbon tetrachloride and somewhat larger concentrations of methy-lene chloride inhibited the formation of methane by the rumen micro-biota in the presence or absence of added substrate. The accumulation of hydrogen at these low concentrations indicates a selective inhibition of methanogenesis. Presumably, these inhibitors affect one or more of the reactions by which methane is formed from hydrogen and carbon dioxide.