Methane (CH₄) production from ruminants accounts for 16% of the global greenhouse gas emissions and represents 2% to 12% of feed energy. Mitigating CH₄ production from ruminants is of great importance for sustainable development of the ruminant industry. H₂ is the primary substrate for CH₄ production in the processes of ruminal methanogenesis. Sulfate reducing bacteria are able to compete with methanogens for H₂ in the rumen, and consequently inhibit the methanogenesis. Enhancing the ruminal sulfate reducing pathway is an important approach to mitigate CH₄ emissions in ruminants. The review summarized the effects of sulfate and elemental S on ruminal methanogenesis, and clarified the related mechanisms through the impacts of sulfate and elemental S on major ruminal sulfate reducing bacteria. Enhancing the activities of the major ruminal sulfate reducing bacteria including Desulfovibrio, Desulfohalobium and Sulfolobus through dietary sulfate addition, elemental S and dried distillers grains with solubles can effectively decrease the ruminal CH₄ emissions. Suitable levels of dietary addition with different S sources for reducing the ruminal CH₄ production, as well as maintaining the performance and health of ruminants, need to be investigated in the future.

反刍动物产生的甲烷 (CH ₄ ) 占全球温室气体排放量的 16%，占饲料能量的 2% 至 12%。减少反刍动物产生CH ₄对反刍动物产业的可持续发展具有重要意义。H ₂是瘤胃产甲烷过程中产生CH ₄的主要底物。硫酸盐还原菌能够与瘤胃中的产甲烷菌竞争 H ₂，从而抑制产甲烷菌。_{加强瘤胃硫酸盐还原途径是缓解 CH 4}的重要途径反刍动物的排放。该综述总结了硫酸盐和元素硫对瘤胃产甲烷的影响，并通过硫酸盐和元素硫对瘤胃主要硫酸盐还原菌的影响阐明了相关机制。通过日粮中添加硫酸盐、元素S和含可溶物的干酒糟提高瘤胃主要硫酸盐还原菌Desulfovibrio、Desulfohalobium和Sulfolobus的活性，可有效降低瘤胃CH ₄排放量。未来需要研究不同硫源的适当添加水平，以减少瘤胃 CH ₄的产生，以及保持反刍动物的生产性能和健康。