Olurotimi Ayobami Olafadehan

Sunflower Oil and Nannochloropsis oculata Microalgae as Sources of Unsaturated Fatty Acids for Mitigation of Methane Production and Enhancing Diets’ Nutritive Value

The objective of this assay was to investigate the effect of adding sunflower oil, Nannochloropsis oculata microalgae and their mixture at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5% to three total mixed rations (TMRs) with different concentrate:forage ratios (40C:60F, 50C:50F, and 60C:40F) on in vitro gas production (GP), methane (CH4) production, and nutrient degradability. Asymptotic GP, GP rate, CH4 concentration/g acid detergent fiber (ADF), dry matter (DM) degradability (DMD), short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and ruminal bacteria population increased, but neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradability (NDFD), ADF degradability (ADFD), and protozoa count decreased with increasing concentrate level in the TMR. Methane production/g DM and NDF was higher for 50C:50F TMR. Sunflower oil reduced asymptotic GP, lag time, CH4 production/g ADF, ammonia-N (NH3-N), and SCFA. Compared to the control treatments, additives decreased GP rate, while sunflower oil/N. oculata mixture increased DMD and NDFD. All additives at 5% increased GP rate and lag time and decreased CH4 production/g DM, ADF, and NDF, ruminal NH3-N, and protozoa count. All additives at 2% increased DMD, NDFD and ADFD, SCFA, and bacteria population. Supplementation of TMR, containing different concentrate:forage ratios, with sunflower oil, N. oculata, and sunflower oil/N. oculata mixture at different doses modified in vitro GP, CH4 production, and nutrient degradability.

Influence of Aguamiel (Agave atrovirens) as a Natural Feed Additive on Cecal Fermentation Kinetics of Some Forage Species in Horse Feeding

&NA; This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different dose levels of aguamiel (Agave atrovirens) on in vitro cecal gas, methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) productions of five forage species (Avena sativa [hay]), Moringa oleifera, Caesalpinia coriacea, Salix babylonica, and Eichhornia crassipes using inocula from the horse. The forage samples were incubated with three doses of aguamiel: 0, 34, and 68 &mgr;g of aguamiel/g dry matter (DM) of substrate. Cecal inocula were collected from four adult female Criolla horses (3–4 years of age and weighing 300 ± 15.0 kg) grazed on native grasses for about 8 hours without supplementation. Forage type affected (P < .001) cecal asymptotic, rate and lag time of gas, CH4 and CO2 productions (mL/g DM), pH and DM degradability. Aguamiel dose had linear and quadratic effects (P < .05) on the asymptotic and rate of CH4 productions and rate and lag time of CO2 productions (mL/g DM). Forage type × aguamiel dose interactions were significant (P < .05) for asymptotic, rate and lag time of gas, and CH4 and CO2 productions (mL/g DM). Forage species effects were pronounced (P < .05) on CH4 and CO2 productions (mL/g incubated and degraded DM) and proportional CH4 production at all hours of incubation, except for CO2 production (mL/g incubated DM). Aguamiel dose affected (P < .05) CO2 production (mL/g incubated DM) and proportional CO2 production at the incubated hours. Forage type × aguamiel dose interactions were observed (P < .05) for CO2 production (mL/g incubated DM) and proportional CO2 production at the incubated hours but had no impact on CH4 production. It is concluded that addition of aguamiel to five forage species affected fermentation kinetics of gas production resulting in different in vitro cecal gas, CH4 and CO2 productions from these substrates. HighlightsAguamiel affected methane production rate and rate and lag time of carbon dioxide (CO2) productions.Methane and CO2 production depended on forage species.Aguamiel dose positively affected CO2 production and proportional CO2 production.Forage type × aguamiel dose interactions were observed for CO2 production.Addition of aguamiel to five forage species affected fermentation kinetics.