The objective of this study was to understand
the effects of fumarate addition on methane
(CH4) and VFA production in the rumen through a
meta-analysis of its effects on ruminal batch cultures.
Because the reduction of fumarate to succinate can
draw electrons away from ruminal methanogenesis, fumarate
has been studied as a potential feed additive to
decrease CH4 production in ruminants. The average
decrease in CH4 in batch cultures was of 0.037 mol/
mol of added fumarate, which is considerably lower
than 0.25 mol/mol, the decrease predicted from the
stoichiometry of the reactions involved.