Lambs born by caesarian were reared in a sterile environment. The animals were fed with sterile milk and fed with a solid sterile diet, Fonty said. The sheep kept growing as normal. Knowing sheep can survive without the methane-producing bacteria is an important first step. Now, Fonty says, scientists have to find out how to kill off the methane-producing bugs in ordinary sheep.
Researchers also have to ensure their procedures can adapt to different methods of rearing sheep.
In the Northern Hemisphere, animals are fed mostly indoors on grain-based diets. In New Zealand, sheep and cattle roam outside grazing on grass. In New Zealand, scientists have been measuring the levels of methane coming out of grazing sheep. About 5 percent of grazing sheep produce up to 40 percent less methane than expected. By understanding the role of the microbes in both sheep reared indoors and outdoors, the scientists hope to find a solution to the methane problem.