反刍动物体内甲烷通过嗳气排入大气， 它的产生损失6%～15%的饲料能量。 应用非分光红外(NDIR)探测技术， 采用电调制红外光源探测器及单光束双波长技术， 实现了对反刍动物CH4和CO2痕量气体排放的实时长期自动超灵敏的监测。 10只体况良好， 体重相近(25±5)kg的成年羯羊作为供试动物， 在隧道体系中进行连续80天的监测。 结果表明， 甲烷和二氧化碳气体的平均回收率分别为(96.7±6.6)%和(96.2±9.9)%， 每只绵羊24 h, CH4和CO2的平均排放量分别为15.6和184.7 g·d-1， 其年排放总量约为6.8和71.1 kg， 且测量的不确定性低于1%。 因此该文用于反刍动物CH4和CO2排放的监测， 实用可行、 简单有效。

Methane (CH4) production in the rumen represents a loss of energy for the host animal; in addition, methane eructated by ruminants may contribute to a greenhouse effect or global warming. The dinumal CH4 and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from sheep were continuously recorded using the flow-through chamber method. A type new type of non-disperse infrared (NDIR) gas sensors based on pulse IR source was introduced, and by using the high performance pyroelectric IR sensor with built in interference filter and the “single light and two wavelengths” technology, CH4 and CO2 measurement from ruminants was achieved. Animals were given dry oat hay as the basic diet and supplemented concentrate with the ratio of 7∶3. The results showed that the recovery was 96.7% and 96.2% for CH4 and CO2, respectively. Methane and carbon dioxide output from sheep respectively averaged 15.6 g per day and 184.7 g per day, equivalent to 6.8 and 71.1 kg per animal. Diurnal fluctuations in hourly rates of CH4 and CO2 production in hourly of methane increased during day light to reach a peak at or near sunset and then declined towards sunrise, and consideration was given to the dry matter intake of the animals used in these studies and its possible effects on CH4 production.