Diversity of Methanogens is Increased in the Rumen of Sheep Fed Monensin

The knowledge of what happens to the diversity of methanogens in the rumen of sheep when the fermentation pattern changed is limited. Many studies have shown that changing rumen fermentation leads to a change in the amount of methane produced (Baker 1999). Monensin is an ionophore that has a wide range of effects on rumen fermentation (Bergen and Bates 1984). The aim of this experiment was to examine whether monensin changes the diversity of methanogens in the rumen of sheep.