The effects of essential oil and condensed tannin on fermentation and methane production under in vitro conditions

Abstract

The potential of five different essential oils (EO) and quebracho condensed tannin extract (QCT) as antimethanogenic additives in ruminant feeds were investigated. The first experiment was conducted to screen the effects rosemary oil, sage oil, cinnamon oil (CNO), eucalyptus oil and myrrh oil at 500 mg/L of culture fluid on methane (CH4) production under in vitro conditions. Rumen contents were collected from a cannulated Holstein dairy cow and used for a 24-h batch-culture experiment. Treatments were a control (CON) or CON plus EO at 500 mg/L. Results showed that CNO decreased CH4 production and, therefore, was selected for Experiment 2. The second experiment was designed to test the effects of CNO at three different dose levels on CH4 production and fermentation in 24-h batch-culture experiments. Treatments were CON or CON plus CNO supplemented at 125, 250 and 500 mg/L. Relative to CON, CNO decreased total gas production at the 250 and 500 mg/L doses. All doses of CNO decreased CH4 production. Total volatile fatty acid production was lower in cultures incubated with CNO at the 500 mg/L. Ammonia-N concentration decreased in cultures incubated with CNO at the 500 mg/L. The third experiment was designed to test the effects of QCT on CH4 production and fermentation in 24-h batch cultures. Treatments were CON or CON plus QCT at 25, 50 and 75 g/kg of diet DM. Relative to CON, total volatile fatty acid concentration increased with the 50 g/kg QCT, but was similar to the 25 and 75 g/kg QCT. The proportions of acetate decreased, while the proportions of propionate increased with the 25 g/kg QCT compared with CON. Methane production was not affected in cultures incubated with QCT. Relative to CON, all doses of QCT decreased ammonia-N concentration. In conclusion, results from the present study showed that except for CNO, EO tested in the study had no effects on rumen CH4 production. Addition of CNO to rumen cultures at 125 and 250 mg/L reduced CH4 production without negative effects on rumen fermentation. Quebracho condensed tannin-extract supplementation had no effects on CH4 production and fermentation parameters except for ammonia-N concentration.