Methane emission of Blackbelly rams consuming whole sugarcane forage compared with Dichanthium sp. hay

Tropical tree foliage supplementation in ruminants improves rumen fermentation and the bacterial profile and decreases methane production

The main of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of tropical tree foliage in ruminant diets on the in vitro fermentation, bacterial population, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and enteric CH4 production. Seven experimental diets were evaluated: a control treatment of Pennisetum purpureum (T7) and six treatments of P. purpureum supplemented (30%) with the foliage of Neomillspaughia emargiata (T1), Tabernaemontana amygdalifolia (T2), Caesalpinia gaumeri (T3), Piscidia piscipula (T4), Leucaena leucocephala (T5), and Havardia albicans (T6). The T2, T7, and T5 treatments had the highest (p < 0.05) digestibility of dry matter. Overall, supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the concentrations of propionic and butyric acid and decreased acetic acid. Methanogenic bacteria decreased (p < 0.05) in T1, T2, T5, and T6. Ruminococcus albus decreased in T1, T2, T3, and T5 and Selenomonas ruminiantum increased in T3. Fibrobacter succinogenes increased, except in T5. Methane production decreased (p < 0.05) in T1, T4, T5, and T6. The supplementation with Leucaena leucocephala, Tabernaemontana amygdalifolia, Neomillspaughia emargiata, Piscidia piscipula, Havardia albicans, and Caesalpinia gaumeri is a potential alternative nutritional strategy for ruminants that results in positive changes in VFAs profile, a decrease on CH4 production and methanogenic bacteria, and changes on fibrolytic and non-fibrolytic bacteria composition.HIGHLIGHTSTropical tree foliage supplementation increased propionic and butyric acid and decreased acetic acid concentrations.Fibrolytic, non-fibrolytic, and Methanogenic bacteria were selectively modulated with the supplementation of tropical tree foliage.The enteric methane (CH4) production decreased with the supplementation of tree foliage.The supplementation of Tabernaemontana amygdalifolia and Leucaena leucocephala had the highest digestibility and is a potential alternative nutritional strategy for ruminants.

Potential Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Tannin-Rich Forage on Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Production, Defaunation and Rumen Function

This experiment evaluated the effect of including Acacia mearnsii leaves in a high-fiber diet (corn stover), on ruminal degradation kinetics, digestibility, microbial biomass production, and gas, CH₄, and CO₂ production. Four experimental diets were tested, including a control with 100% corn stover (T1), and three additional diets with corn stover supplemented at 15% A. mearnsii leaves (T2), 30% A. mearnsii leaves (T3) and 45% of A. mearnsii leaves (T4). The highest dry matter in situ degradation (p ≤ 0.001) and in vitro digestibility (p ≤ 0.001) was found in T1 (80.6 and 53.4%, respectively) and T2 (76.4 and 49.6%, respectively) diets. A higher population of holotrich and entodiniomorph ruminal protozoa was found (p = 0.0001) in T1 at 12 and 24 h. Diets of T1 and T2 promoted a higher (p = 0.0001) microbial protein production (314.5 and 321.1 mg/0.5 g DM, respectively). Furthermore, a lower amount of CH₄ was found (p < 0.05) with T2, T3 and T4. It is concluded that it is possible to supplement up to 15% of A. mearnsii leaves (30.5 g TC/kg DM) in ruminant's diets. This decreased the population of protozoa (holotrich and entodiniomorph) as well as the CH₄ production by 35.8 and 18.5%, respectively, without generating adverse effects on the ruminal degradation kinetics, nutrient digestibility and microbial protein production.

Levels of the Enterolobium cyclocarpum pod in feedlot diet on growth performance, ruminal fermentation and biogas production of lambs-hair

Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Ec) is a native legume that grows from southern Mexico to South America; its seeds are traditionally used for feeding ruminants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the addition of Ec pods in diets of hair lambs and their effect on the productive variables, ruminal fermentation and in vitro production of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide. Thirty male lambs fed diets containing 0% (Ec0), 20% (Ec20) and 40% (Ec40) based on dry matter were evaluated. The addition of Ec40 in the integral diet of the lambs did not affect the growth performance. The pH of the ruminal fluid did not show differences between the treatments. The addition of Ec40 increased propionate and decreased acetate. Protozoa decreased in 47 and 59% with Ec20 and Ec40, respectively; while the population of cellulolytic bacteria decreased with Ec40. In vitro degradability of dry matter was lower in 8.8% with the inclusion of Ec40 in diets. The novelty of the study was that Ec40 diet decreased the ruminal methane production.

Effect of tree foliage supplementation of tropical grass diet on in vitro digestibility and fermentation, microbial biomass synthesis and enteric methane production in ruminants

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of tree foliage species supplemented in ruminant diets based on Pennisetum purpureum on the in vitro digestibility and fermentation, microbial biomass synthesis and enteric methane production. Seven experimental diets were evaluated, including a control treatment based on P. purpureum (PT) grass, and six additional treatments supplemented with 30.0% foliage from Neomillspaughia emargiata (NE), Tabernaemontana amygdalifolia (TA), Caesalpinia gaumeri (CG), Piscidia piscipula (PP), Leucaena leucocephala (LL) and Havardia albicans (HA). A randomised complete block design repeated in two periods (block) was used. The highest gas production (P < 0.05) was recorded in treatments TA and PT (237 and 228 mL g-1, respectively). The highest in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDMD) and organic matter (IVOMD) (P < 0.05) was recorded in the control treatment PT (57.9% and 66.1%, respectively). Treatments LL, NE, TA and PP promoted greater microbial biomass synthesis (290, 223, 220 and 213 mg g-1, respectively) (P < 0.05). The proportion of propionic acid also increased in these latter treatments and in treatments CG and HA (P < 0.05). Additionally, treatments LL, PP, NE and TA decreased methane production (25.8, 29.5, 30.6 and 31.8 L kg-1 of digested dry matter, respectively). In conclusion, supplementation with L. leucocephala, P. piscipula, N. emargiata and T. amygdalifolia in ruminant diets based on P. purpureum is one feed alternative that can promote greater efficiency and synthesis of microbial biomass, increase the proportions of propionic and butyric acid and decrease the production of enteric methane by 15.6 to 31.6%.

Effect of supplementation with saponins from Yucca schidigera on ruminal methane production by Pelibuey sheep fed Pennisetum purpureum grass

The aim of the work was to determine the effect of increasing concentrations of saponins from Yucca schidigera in the diet on voluntary intake, rumen fermentation and methane (CH4) production in Pelibuey sheep fed a tropical grass Pennisetum purpureum. Five male sheep (32.2 ± 1.1 kg liveweight) were fed chopped P. purpureum grass in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Sheep were supplemented with 0.0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 or 6.0 g per day of saponins from Y. schidigera mixed with ground corn, before the grass was offered. Feed intake, feed refusal and total faecal output were recorded for 20 days of the adaptation period and 5 days of the experimental period. Apparent digestibility of dry matter (DMD), organic matter (OMD), neutral detergent fibre (NDFD) and acid detergent fibre (ADFD) were determined. Ruminal methane emission was estimated using stoichiometric balance and the molar proportion of volatile fatty acids was determined by gas chromatography. Voluntary intake, DMD, OMD, NDFD, ADFD, volatile fatty acids and CH4 emission were not affected (P > 0.05) by increasing inclusion levels of saponins in the ration of sheep. Nonetheless, CH4 production increased as the voluntary intake of NDF augmented. Addition of 6 g of saponins per day as a supplement to Pelibuey sheep fed a tropical grass did not affect voluntary intake and digestibility of DM, OM, NDF and ADF, or ruminal methane production.