Effects of Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria extracts on in vitro ruminal fermentation and methane emission

Series of in vitro trials were conducted to evaluate dose–response effects of walnut leaf ethanolic extract (WLEE) on ruminal fermentation, microbial populations, mitigation of methane emission and acidosis prevention. The treatments were conducted according to a 5 × 3 factorial arrangement in a completely randomised design formulated to contain corn (corn-based diet, CBD) and barley grain (barley-based diet, BBD), or equal amounts of barley and corn (barley and corn diet, BCD), consisting of either basal diets alone (0) or basal diets with 250, 500, 750 or 1000 µL of WLEE (W0, W250, W500, W750 and W1000 respectively) per litre of buffered rumen fluid. Three fistulated cows fed diets containing alfalfa hay and concentrate mixes (same as the control diet) plus minerals and vitamins were used for collection of ruminal fluid. The asymptote of gas production and methane emission was decreased and lag time increased in a linear and quadratic manner with an increasing dose of WLEE (P < 0.001). However, gas production rate reduced linearly as WLEE dose increased (P < 0.001). Methane production was significantly reduced linearly (L) and quadratically (Q) when walnut ethanolic extract was increased from 250 to 1000 μL/L (L and Q; P < 0.001). The addition of WLEE significantly altered the volatile fatty acid profile in comparison to control, reducing the molar proportion of acetate and increasing that of propionate (P < 0.001), and also decreased the ammonia-N concentration (L, P < 0.001). Dry-matter and organic-matter in vitro digestibility coefficients were negatively affected by WLEE supplementation (L and Q; P < 0.001). Although anti-acidosis potential of WLEE was significantly lower than that of monensin, W1000 increased medium culture pH compared with uncontrolled acidosis and the lower doses of WLEE. The populations of Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and R. albus were significantly reduced by WLEE, although to different magnitudes, depending on the corn and barley grain proportions in the diet. Results of the present study indicated that increasing addition levels of WLEE have noticeable effects on rumen microbial population and fermentation characteristics. It can be concluded that WLEE can potentially be used to manipulate ruminal fermentation patterns.

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Effects of Plant Extracts on Microbial Population, Methane Emission and Ruminal Fermentation Characteristics in In vitro

Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences ◽

10.5713/ajas.2011.11447 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 25 (6) ◽

pp. 806-811 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

E. T. Kim ◽

C. -H. Kim ◽

K. -S. Min ◽

S. S. Lee

Keyword(s):

Plant Extracts ◽

Methane Emission ◽

Microbial Population ◽

Ruminal Fermentation

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Effects of supplementation levels of Allium fistulosum L. extract on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics and methane emission

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.9651 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e9651

Author(s):

Jun Sik Eom ◽

Shin Ja Lee ◽

Yejun Lee ◽

Hyun Sang Kim ◽

You Young Choi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Methane Emission ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Methanogenic Archaea ◽

Allium Fistulosum ◽

Ruminal Fermentation ◽

Extract Concentration ◽

Randomized Design ◽

Reduce Emissions

Background Ruminants release the majority of agricultural methane, an important greenhouse gas. Different feeds and additives are used to reduce emissions, but each has its drawbacks. This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of Allium fistulosum L. (A. fistulosum) extract on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics, and on methane emission. Methods Rumen fluid was taken from two cannulated rumen Hanwoo cow (with mean initial body weight 450 ± 30 kg, standard deviation = 30). Rumen fluid and McDougall’s buffer (1:2; 15 mL) were dispensed anaerobically into 50 mL serum bottles containing 300 mg (DM basis) of timothy substrate and A. fistulosum extracts (based on timothy substrate; 0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, or 9%). This experiment followed a completely randomized design performed in triplicate, using 126 individual serum bottles (six treatments × seven incubation times × three replicates). Results Dry matter degradability was not significantly affected (p-value > 0.05) by any A. fistulosum treatment other than 1% extract at 24 h incubation. Methane emission linearly decreased A. fistulosum extract concentration increased at 12 and 24 h incubation (p-value < 0.0001; p-value = 0.0003, respectively). Acetate concentration linearly decreased (p-value = 0.003) as A. fistulosum extract concentration increased at 12 h incubation. Methanogenic archaea abundance tendency decreased (p-value = 0.055) in the 1%, 7%, and 9% A. fistulosum extract groups compared to that in the 0% group, and quadratically decreased (p-value < 0.0001) as A. fistulosum extract concentration increased at 24 h incubation. Conclusion A. fistulosum extract had no apparent effect on ruminal fermentation characteristics or dry matter degradability. However, it reduced methane emission and methanogenic archaea abundance.

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Influence of nitrate supplementation on in-vitro methane emission, milk production, ruminal fermentation, and microbial methanotrophs in dairy cows fed at two forage levels

Annals of Animal Science ◽

10.2478/aoas-2021-0087 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Majid Sharifi ◽

Akbar Taghizadeh ◽

Ali Hosseinkhani ◽

Valiollah Palangi ◽

Muhlis Macit ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Methane Emission ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Volatile Fatty Acids ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Ammonia Concentration ◽

Microbial Flora ◽

Ruminal Fermentation ◽

Nitrate Supplementation

Abstract Modifying the chemical composition of a diet can be a good strategy for reducing methane emission in the rumen. However, this strategy can have adverse effects on the ruminal microbial flora. The aim of our study was to reduce methane without disturbing ruminal function by stimulating the growth and propagation of methanotrophs. In this study, we randomly divided twenty multiparous Holstein dairy cows into 4 groups in a 2×2 factorial design with two forage levels (40% and 60%) and two nitrate supplementation levels (3.5% and zero). We examined the effect of experimental diets on cow performance, ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites and changes of ruminal microbial flora throughout the experimental period (45-day). Additionally, in vitro methane emission was evaluated. Animals fed diet with 60% forage had greater dry matter intake (DMI) and milk fat content, but lower lactose and milk urea content compared with those fed 40% forage diet. Moreover, nitrate supplementation had no significant effect on DMI and milk yield. Furthermore, the interactions showed that nitrate reduces DMI and milk fat independently of forage levels. Our findings showed that nitrate can increase ammonia concentration, pH, nitrite, and acetate while reducing the total volatile fatty acids concentration, propionate, and butyrate in the rumen. With increasing nitrate, methane emission was considerably decreased possibly due to the stimulated growth of Fibrobacteria, Proteobacteria, type II Methanotrophs, and Methanoperedense nitroreducens, especially with high forage level. Overall, nitrate supplementation could potentially increase methane oxidizing microorganisms without adversely affecting cattle performance.

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