Abstract
Abstract Neem (Azadirachta indica) belongs to Meliaceae family, represented mainly by trees, and widely cultivated and adapted in many tropical regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing doses of neem seed oil (NSO) on ruminal methane (CH4) formation, diet degradability, and fermentation characteristics after 24 h of in vitro incubation. Treatments were randomly designed to four doses of NSO supplemented to the basal diet (0, 20, 40, or 60 ml/kg DM). Increasing NSO dose resulted in a quadratic decrease (P < 0.05) in net gas (expressed as ml/g DM and ml/g TDOM) and CH4 (expressed as ml/g TDNDF) production, while CH4 (expressed as ml/g TDOM), acetate and propionate proportions decreased linearly confirming a dose-related effect. A quadratic increase in TDOM and linear increase (P = 0.023) in DNDF, NH3-N concentrations, and total protozoal counts were observed. However, a linear increase (P = 0.009) was found in the ruminal butyrate proportion and partitioning factor as dietary NSO supplementation increased. In conclusion, dietary NSO supplementation mediated some desirable fermentation patterns, reducing ruminal NH3-N concentration and CH4 production with some adverse effects on fiber degradability. However, practical research under long-term conditions is required for further investigation.
Highlights
D direct inhibition of methanogens (Johnson and Johnson, 1995)
neem seed oil (NSO) is a good source of total unsaturated fatty acids accounts for approximately 64% (USFA) in the form of 0.17%
Total net gas and methane production and feed degradability The net GP and CH4 decreased quadratically (P < 0.05), while CH4 decreased linearly (P < 0.05) as the dose of NSO increased in the diet (Table 3)
Summary
Several research studies (Hristov et al, 2013b; Gomaa et al, 2018; Vargas et al, 2020) have been documented that along with the potential effects of oilseeds on ruminal microbes and CH4 formation, there is an increasing interest to emphasize that feed degradability is not hindered (Haque, 2019). Neem tree parts (such as fruits, leaves, bark, seeds, and roots) were reported to contain phytochemical active components and proven biological, agricultural, and medicinal (antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal) properties (Lokanadhan et al, 2012). We hypothesize that dietary supplementation with NSO would alter ruminal fermentation functions and feed degradability, and keeping CH4 production constant or even decrease. This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of increasing doses of NSO on fermentation functions, feed degradability, and methanogenesis under in vitro conditions
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