The swamp gas that some animals release is most likely methane (CHâ‚„). This gas is produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen, a process called methanogenesis. In animals, this process typically occurs in the gut by methane-producing microbes that live there.
Ruminant animals, such as cows, sheep, goats, and deer, have complex digestive systems with a compartment called the rumen where plant material ferments. These microbes ferment the complex carbohydrates in the plant material, producing methane as a byproduct. This methane is then released by the animal through belching.
Methane is a greenhouse gas, and the enteric fermentation in ruminant animals is a significant source of methane emissions. However, methane is also an energy source, and some scientists are exploring ways to capture and use the methane produced by cows and other ruminants.
