Influence of Salix Babylonica Extract in Combination or not with Increasing Levels of Minerals Mixture on in Vitro Rumen Gas Production Kinetics of a Total Mixed Ration

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of increasing levels of two feed additives composed of Salix babylonica (SB) extract and minerals mixture (MM) or their combination on in vitro gas production (GP) and dry matter (DM) degradability of total mixed ration (TMR; 50 concentrate: 50 corn silage, on DM basis). Combinations of four levels of SB extract (0, 0.6, 1.2 and 1.8 mL/g DM) with four levels of MM (0, 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 g/100 g DM) were evaluated in a completely random design. Samples of TMR (1 g) were weighed in 120 mL serum bottles with addition of SB extract and/or MM. Then, 10 mL of particle free ruminal fluid were added followed by 40 mL of the buffer solution. The GP was recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation. Addition of SB extract, without MM, increased (P<0.05) asymptotic GP (mL/g DM), the rate of GP (/h), GP and DM degradability (DMD). Addition of MM, without SB, increased (P<0.05) b and decreased c and ruminal pH. Increasing the levels of SB increased (P<0.05) b, c, L, and GP in addition to linearly increase (P<0.001) DMD. Increasing levels of MM increased (P<0.05) b and c while decreased pH. An interaction occurred between different SB extract and MM levels: the most effective levels of SB extract and MM on ruminal fermentation and kinetics were 1.8 mL SB extract/g DM and 2.5 g MM/100 g DM.