[Reeses]

I'm agreeing with you, just pointing out that the microorganisms that output methane are called methanogens and are not classified as a type of bacteria. Many kinds of bacteria aid digestion, but methanogens do not. They do nothing for the cow. Some food plants have been genetically modified to produce a specific pesticide. Because methanogens are different than bacteria, there are chemicals, oxygen being a simple one, that kill methanogens and leave bacteria alone. The greenhouse issue is methanogens, not cows or bacteria.

[rey]

The definition I have of methogens is “a methane-producing bacterium, or archaebacteria, especially an archaean that reduces carbon dioxide to methane”

How is a bacterium differnt than a bacteria? If CO2 is reducable to methane, it would seem that mehtane, in some way, might be preferable as it breaks down easier than CO2

I think methogens have a lot to do with the acidification of food in the guy, hence its effect on the Ph balance of the gut.

Still, whether it is methogens in cattle producing methane or something else producing methane, it adds up top the same thing, something will eventually break the cellulose down and produce something someone objects to.