How SeaTrace™ SC-1
reduces methane —
without bromoform.
The rumen makes methane because it needs somewhere to put hydrogen. SeaTrace™ SC-1 cuts that hydrogen off at two points simultaneously — suppressing the microbes that make methane, and redirecting hydrogen into propionate that the animal actually uses.
- 01 The rumen ferments feed into energy (VFAs) and, as a byproduct, metabolic hydrogen (H₂).
- 02 Methanogenic archaea are the rumen's default hydrogen exhaust — they combine H₂ + CO₂ → CH₄ (methane), which is belched out as the animal's biggest GHG emission.
- 03 SeaTrace™ SC-1 acts on both entry points: (A) red seaweed bioactives suppress methanogens; (B) SSF probiotics redirect the remaining H₂ into propionate — energy the animal absorbs. Methane falls. Feed efficiency holds.
The rumen doesn't make methane
on purpose. It's disposing of hydrogen.
Understanding why methane forms is the key to understanding why AENON's approach works — and why a second mechanism matters.
Rumen microbes break down carbohydrates into VFAs (acetate, propionate, butyrate) that the animal absorbs as energy. H₂ is an unavoidable fermentation byproduct that must be continuously cleared.
Methanobrevibacter ruminantium and related archaea are the dominant electron sink in the rumen. They combine H₂ + CO₂ → CH₄. Every molecule of methane is hydrogen the animal cannot use — and a greenhouse gas emitted to atmosphere.
SeaTrace™ SC-1 suppresses the methanogens (fewer archaea = less H₂ consumed as CH₄) and simultaneously activates propionate synthesis (H₂ captured as a productive VFA). Methane falls; feed efficiency holds.
Two pathways.
One outcome.
SeaTrace™ SC-1 suppresses methane through two independent, complementary biological pathways that operate simultaneously inside the rumen. Neither alone is sufficient — together they close both hydrogen exits.
- Tropical red seaweed (proprietary blend)
Marine bioactive polysaccharides directly suppress the activity and proliferation of methanogenic archaea (primarily Methanobrevibacter ruminantium) in the rumen microbiome. With fewer active methanogens, less H₂ is converted to CH₄.
Suppressing methanogens alone risks hydrogen accumulation in the rumen — uncleared H₂ inhibits fermentation and depresses feed efficiency. This is the core limitation of single-inhibitor approaches.
- Proprietary SSF probiotic strains
- (strain identities undisclosed — patent pending)
SSF fermentation metabolites and probiotic activity promote the propionate fermentation pathway as a competing alternative electron sink for metabolic H₂ — the same hydrogen that would otherwise go to methanogens.
Propionate (C3 VFA) is directly absorbed by the animal as a glucogenic energy substrate. Hydrogen that would have been lost as methane is instead captured as productive energy — feed efficiency is preserved or improved.
Mechanism A (archaea suppression) reduces methane directly — but suppressing the dominant electron sink without providing an alternative risks hydrogen accumulation, which inhibits fermentation and depresses feed conversion efficiency. Mechanism B solves this by activating propionate synthesis as an alternative hydrogen sink: the H₂ that would have become methane is instead captured as a productive C3 VFA the animal absorbs. The net result is that methane falls and feed efficiency is preserved. This is the structural advantage of SeaTrace™ SC-1's dual-mechanism design over single-inhibitor approaches.
The same mechanism,
three ways.
The science is the same at every level. The framing adjusts for the audience.
How AENON differs
from bromoform approaches.
A balanced comparison. Bromoform-based approaches are effective — but carry structural residue and regulatory risks that SeaTrace™ SC-1 is designed to avoid.
(e.g. Asparagopsis taxiformis)
Tropical Red Seaweed (SSF)
What the data
shows so far.
Preliminary batch-culture rumen fermentation assay. In-vivo validation planned Q4 2026 — SNU Pyeongchang, 6-head Hanwoo crossover.
Five steps from ocean
to lower methane.
Tropical red seaweed blend (primary + secondary species)
Sourced Vietnam. Bromoform-free. Not Asparagopsis taxiformis.
— Break down gel matrix (carrageenan)
— Release bioactive sulphated polysaccharides
— Produce probiotic metabolites (H₂-sink strains)
— Optimise rumen bioavailability
SSF output contains both the seaweed bioactives (Mechanism A) and the probiotic strains (Mechanism B).
— Mixed directly into TMR (Total Mixed Ration)
— No separate dosing equipment required
— Active components: sulphated polysaccharides + proprietary SSF probiotic strains (undisclosed)
— Shelf-stable dry formulation
Formulation confirmed
A — Sulphated polysaccharides contact methanogenic archaea → suppression begins
B — Proprietary SSF probiotic strains (undisclosed) promote propionate pathway → alternative H₂ sink established
— Methanogen suppression → fewer archaea converting H₂ to CH₄
— Propionate sink → remaining H₂ captured as productive C3 VFA
— CH₄ belch emission reduced ~50% (in-vitro, preliminary)
— Propionate elevated → energy preserved for animal → FCR maintained
— No bromoform, no residue, no synthetic chemical
In-Vitro evidence (preliminary)
Where we are.
Where we're going.
Frequently asked
questions.
The questions investors, feed industry partners, and researchers ask most — answered plainly.
메탄생성균은 해조류로 억제하고, 그때 남아서 소화를 방해하는 수소는 프로바이오틱이 소의 에너지(propionate)로 바꿉니다.
Our seaweed suppresses methane-producing microbes, while our probiotics turn the leftover hydrogen into animal energy — cutting methane without hurting digestion.
소의 위(반추위)에서 메탄은 단순한 가스가 아니라, 소화 과정에서 생기는 수소(H₂)를 배출하는 배기구입니다. 브로모폼 같은 단일 억제제는 메탄 생성만 무작정 막기 때문에 수소가 반추위에 축적됩니다. 쌓인 수소는 발효를 방해하여 소화 효율과 사료 전환율(FCR)을 떨어뜨릴 수 있습니다.
Methane is the rumen's exhaust pipe for excess hydrogen produced during fermentation. Blocking methane production alone — without providing an alternative hydrogen exit — causes hydrogen to accumulate inside the rumen. Accumulated H₂ inhibits fermentation microbiology and can reduce feed efficiency (FCR), partially offsetting the climate benefit.
핵심 통찰 / Key Insight:
메탄 감소와 소화 효율 보존은 서로 다른 문제입니다.
둘을 동시에 해결하려면 수소의 출구가 하나 더 필요합니다.
AENON의 Mechanism B(프로바이오틱 H₂ 싱크)가 바로 그 역할입니다.
Methane reduction and feed efficiency are two separate problems. Solving both requires a second hydrogen exit — that is exactly what Mechanism B provides.
두 기전이 반추위 안에서 동시에 작동합니다.
열대 홉조류의 황산화 다당류가 메탄생성 미생물(Methanogen Archaea)의 개체수와 활동을 직접 억제합니다. 결과: 메탄 생성 감소 ↓
AENON의 독점 SSF 프로바이오틱 균주(균주명 미공개 — 특허 출원 중)가 메탄으로 가지 못한 수소(H₂)를 포집하여 프로피온산(Propionate)으로 전환합니다. 결과: 수소 축적 방지 + 소의 에너지 증가 ↑
Both mechanisms activate simultaneously inside the rumen.
Sulphated polysaccharides from E. denticulatum and K. alvarezii directly suppress the activity and population of methanogenic archaea (Methanobrevibacter ruminantium) — the microbes that produce CH₄.
AENON's proprietary SSF probiotic strains (identities undisclosed — patent pending) route the freed H₂ into propionate (a glucogenic C3 VFA the animal absorbs as energy) instead of letting it accumulate or continue to methane.
브로모폼 기반 접근(예: Asparagopsis taxiformis)은 메탄 감소 효능이 높고 임상 데이터가 풍부합니다.
아래 표는 효능 우위를 주장하는 것이 아닌, 구조적 차이를 정확하게 정리한 것입니다.
Bromoform-based approaches (e.g. Asparagopsis) are efficacious with extensive clinical data. The table below describes structural differences — not a superiority claim.
| 구분 / Criterion | 브로모폼 기반 (Asparagopsis 등) |
AENON SeaTrace™ SC-1 (Bromoform-Free) |
|---|---|---|
| 작동 방식 Mechanism |
브로모폼이 메탄 생성 효소(MCR)를 화학적 억제 (단일 기전) Bromoform inhibits MCR enzyme — single inhibitor |
[A] 해조류: 미생물 억제 + [B] 프로바이오틱: 수소 → 에너지 전환 (이중 기전) [A] Seaweed: archaea suppression + [B] Probiotic: H₂ → propionate (dual mechanism) |
| 소화 안전성 Digestive Safety |
고용량 시 수소 축적 → 소화 효율 저하 위험 H₂ accumulation risk at higher doses |
Mechanism B가 수소를 propionate로 처리 → 소화 및 FCR 보호 Mechanism B clears H₂ as propionate — FCR protected |
| 잔류·식품 안전 Residue & Food Safety |
우유·고기 내 브로모폼 잔류 가능성, 국가별 규제 기준 필요 Milk/meat residue risk; country-specific MRL standards required |
잔류 물질 없음 (No Residue). 브로모폼 검출 0 No halocarbon residue detected in formulation |
| 비용·인프라 Cost & Infrastructure |
전용 냉장 보관·측정 표준 필요, 공급망 복잡 Cold chain, dedicated measurement standards, complex supply |
기존 TMR 사료 설비 그대로 사용, 건조 분말 혼합만으로 투여 Dry powder mixed into existing TMR; no special equipment |
| 현재 실증 수준 Evidence Level |
다수 in-vivo 임상 결과 보유 (높은 CH₄ 감소 수치) Multiple in-vivo trials — high CH₄ reduction reported |
In-vitro 약 50% CH₄ 감소 (예비, 체외 시험 기준) In-vivo 검증: 서울대 평창 Q4 2026 예정 ~50% in-vitro (preliminary); in-vivo planned Q4 2026 SNU Pyeongchang In-Vitro · Preliminary |
현재 in-vitro CH₄ 감소 수치는 브로모폼 기반 제품의 공개 데이터를 초과하지 않습니다.
AENON의 구조적 강점은 잔류 위험 없음과 이중 기전에 의한 FCR 보호입니다.
in-vivo 검증 완료 전에는 직접 효능 비교를 하지 않습니다.
Current in-vitro CH₄ figures do not exceed leading bromoform-based products. AENON's structural advantage is residue safety and dual-mechanism FCR protection — not absolute efficacy superiority. No head-to-head efficacy claim will be made before in-vivo validation.
현재 In-vitro(체외 시험)에서 약 50%의 메탄 감소 효과를 일관되게 입증했습니다 (배치 배양 반추위 발효 가스 생산 실험, 예비 데이터). In-vitro 결과는 실제 소(in-vivo)에서의 효과를 보장하지 않습니다.
다음 단계: 서울대학교 평창캠퍼스에서 2026년 4분기 중 한우 교차설계(6두, SF₆ 추적가스법)으로 in-vivo 검증을 실시할 예정입니다. CH₄, FCR, VFA, DMI를 동시에 측정하며 결과는 투명하게 공개합니다.
Current evidence is from preliminary in-vitro rumen fermentation assays (batch-culture gas production method), showing approximately 50% CH₄ reduction versus vehicle control. In-vitro results cannot be extrapolated directly to live animal performance.
Next step: In-vivo validation is planned at Seoul National University Pyeongchang campus, Q4 2026, using a 6-head Hanwoo crossover design with SF₆ tracer gas technique. CH₄, FCR, VFA, and DMI will be measured simultaneously. Results will be published transparently regardless of outcome direction.
Dig deeper.
Or talk to us directly.
For technical documentation, raw in-vitro data, or partnership discussions, contact us directly at zionbong@aenon.co.kr.