Sulphate reduction and methanogenesis in the ovine rumen and porcine caecum: a comparison of two microbial ecosystems.

A series of experiments was conducted to study the relationship between methanogenesis and sulphate reduction in ovine rumen and porcine caecum. Effect of 2-bromoethane sulphonate on hydrogen production by digesta suggested that the most important H2-disposal system in the rumen is methanogenesis and that methanogenesis is not predominant H2-disposal system in the porcine caecum. This inference was supported by the difference in predominant H2-utilizers in these two microbial ecosystems; Methanogenic bacteria (MB) were predominant in the rumen and sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) were predominant in porcine caecum. Free sulphate levels in digesta appear to affect the relationship between MB and SRB. Sulphate levels in the rumen were likely to be insufficient for SRB to outcompete MB.