Session: Ruminant Nutrition I: Feed Additives

296 - Effects of Phytogenic Additives Combinations on in vitro Methane Production and Ruminal Fermentation

Thursday, July 15, 2021

9:45 AM EST

Location: Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC), L005/009

Presenting Author(s)

Nelson Vera, DVSc

Researcher
Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
Chillan, Bio-Bio

PDF Slides and Audio

Author(s)

Sandra Suescun–Ospina, PhD(c)

Assistant Professor
School of Animal Sciences, Universidad de los Llanos, Vereda Barcelona, Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia
Villavicencio, Meta
RA

Rita Astudillo

Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
Chillan, Bio-Bio
AM

Antonia Muñoz

Nutrition and Technical Assistance Department, Veterquimica, Chile
Santiago, Region Metropolitana
RA

Rodrigo Allende

Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
Chillan, Bio-Bio
JA

Jorge Avila-Stagno

Associate Professor
Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
Chillan, Bio-Bio

Replacing synthetic feed additives by plant secondary metabolites (PSM) as essential oils, saponins and tannins has been proposed, due to their potential to reduce methane (CH₄) emissions, without adverse effects on ruminal fermentation. This study aimed to evaluate the use of oregano essential oil (OR), quillaja saponin (QS), and quebracho tannin (QT) extracts and their combinations as feed additives on in vitro CH₄ production and rumen fermentation parameters. The design was an incomplete factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block with seven treatments using batch culture. Dietary treatments were: control (CON), without plant extracts; OR (0.07% dry matter [DM] basis of the diet); QS (0.05% DM); QT (1.00% DM); and binary combinations QT+QS (1.00 and 0.05% DM, respectively); OR+QS (0.07 and 0.05% DM, respectively); and OR+QT (0.07 and 1.00% DM, respectively). The forage to concentrate ratio was 51:49. Forage was composed of corn silage (42.0%) and perennial ryegrass and white clover hay (9.0%); concentrate was based on high–moisture corn (33.0%), soybean meal (15.0%), vitamin and mineral salt (1%). All combinations decreased the net CH₄ and its production (P ≤ 0.038 and P ≤ 0.027, respectively). However, the interaction between QT and QS decreased CH₄ yield (P = 0.046), whereas OR and QS interaction, trended to decreased CH₄ yield (P = 0.068) and the in vitro DM disappearance (IVDMD; P = 0.055). In contrast, the interaction between OR and QT decreased the IVDMD (P = 0.036). The gas output, partitioning factor and pH, were unaffected (P ≥ 0.066) by PSM, separately or in combinations. The results suggest that QT+QS is the best PSM combination to reduce the amount of CH₄ per g DM degraded without adversely impacting rumen fermentation and diet digestibility. Although OR+QT or OR+QS are also an alternative to reduce CH₄, its combination may also reduce diet digestibility.