Abstract
The study was taken up to assess the effect of the pure essential oils (EOs) viz. cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol, carvone and limonene supplemented individually at 1 to 5% levels of the substrate DM (wheat straw) on the in vitro methane production and fiber degradation in a 4 × 7 factorial design. Supplementation of cinnamaldehyde and carvon, irrespective of their level had significantly (P < 0.01) higher net gas production (NGP), digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDFD) and true organic matter (TOMD), metabolizable energy (ME) availability and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production from the substrate. The methane production was lowest (P < 0.01) in carvacrol followed by limonene and highest (P < 0.01) in carvone supplemented groups. Irrespective of the type of EO, the NGP and ME availability at 1% level of supplementation was comparable with control, while values of all other parameters were significantly (P < 0.01) lower than control and positive control. The NGP, NDFD and TOMD, ME availability, methane production and total and individual VFAs production was depressed significantly (P < 0.01) beyond 1% level of supplementation of EO. It was concluded that carvacrol or limonene supplementation beyond 1% level reduced the methane production but the digestibility of nutrients, volatile fatty acid production and ME availability from the substrate were also depressed significantly.
Highlights
Mitigation of enteric methane emission and decreasing the carbon footprints of ruminants is one of the pressing challenges faced in the ruminant production sector
The results revealed that irrespective of the level of essential oils (EOs) supplementation, net gas production (NGP) varied (P < 0.01) from 54 to 117 ml/g dry matter (DM)/24 h
The NGP, digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), true OM and metabolizable energy (ME) availability from wheat straw (WS) was similar in cinnamaldehyde and carvon supplemented groups, but significantly (P < 0.01) higher than that of carvacrol and limonene supplemented groups (Table 1)
Summary
Mitigation of enteric methane emission and decreasing the carbon footprints of ruminants is one of the pressing challenges faced in the ruminant production sector. Because of the intricate relationships existing between the efficiency of feed fermentation in the rumen and methanogenesis, mitigation options have to be evaluated not just in terms of their effect on methane or total green house gases emissions and on other rumen functional parameters and on their final consequences on animal production. The efficiency of energy and protein utilization in the rumen is relatively low and can be improved by the modulation of several metabolic pathways, including the inhibition of methane production and deamination in the rumen. This low efficiency reduces production performance, and contributes to the release of pollutants to the environment [1]. New commercial additives are required that offer more safety, but can manipulate rumen fermentation
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