The aim of this paper is to review the role of methane in the global warmin
g scenario and to examine the contribution to atmospheric methane made by e
nteric fermentation, mainly by ruminants. Agricultural emissions of methane
in the EU-15 have recently been estimated at 10.2 million tonnes per year
and represent the greatest source. Of these, approximately two-thirds come
from enteric fermentation and one-third from livestock manure. Fermentation
of feeds in the rumen is the largest source of methane from enteric fermen
tation and this paper considers in detail the reasons for, and the conseque
nces of, the fact that the molar percentage of the different volatile fatty
acids produced during fermentation influences the production of methane in
the rumen. Acetate and butyrate promote methane production while propionat
e formation can be considered as a competitive pathway for hydrogen use in
the rumen. The many alternative approaches to reducing methane are consider
ed, both in terms of reduction per animal and reduction per unit of animal
product. It was concluded that the most promising areas for future research
for reducing methanogenesis are the development of new products/delivery s
ystems for anti-methanogenic compounds or alternative electron accepters in
the rumen and reduction in protozoal numbers in the rumen. It is also stre
ssed that the reason ruminants are so important to mankind is that much of
the world's biomass is rich in fibre. They can convert this into high quali
ty protein sources (i.e. meat and milk) for human consumption and this will
need to be balanced against the concomitant production of methane.