Process for the utilization of ruminant animal methane emissions

A method for oxidizing methane using a source of oxygen and the enteric fermentation methane produced by one or more ruminant animals as a source of carbon and/or energy, comprising:

• a. providing one or more ruminant animals contained in an enclosure;
• b. providing a first gas comprising enteric fermentation-derived methane gas that has been emitted by and collected directly from said animals;
• c. providing a second gas comprising air that has been combined with said first gas in said enclosure, wherein said second gas comprises oxygen and wherein the concentration of said enteric fermentation-derived methane in said combination of first and second gases is between 1.7 ppm and 1000 ppm;
• d. providing a culture of at least one methanotrophic microorganism, wherein said microorganism oxidizes methane to methanol, water, and/or carbon dioxide, wherein said microorganism is unable to utilize said first gas as a sole source of methane;
• e. providing a third gas comprising methane, wherein the amount of methane in said third gas is sufficient to support the growth of said at least one microorganism when fed to said microorganism;
• f. introducing a combination of said first, second and third gases into a culture chamber comprising said at least one methanotrophic microorganism thereby oxidizing a portion of said methane in both said first and third gases to methanol, water, and/or carbon dioxide.