Effect of Methane Inhibitors on Rumen Metabolism and Feedlot Performance of Sheep

In vitro and in vivo tureen fermentation studies and a lamb performance trial were conducted to discover and evaluate the effect of methane formation-suppressing compounds on tureen metabolism and performance. These experiments indicate that methane inhibitors significantly alter ruminal metabolism resulting in a potentially favorable shift in the proportions of useful metabolites produced in the rumen. The performance data with lambs indicate a trend toward improved feed efficiency with the inhibitor.