Abstract
The rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) was used to evaluate the
effect of two levels of echium (Echium plantagineum) oil (EO) on methano-genesis.
Treatments comprised: control (commercial total mixed ration for lactating dairy
cows; positive control), control supplemented with sodium 2-bromoethanesulfonate
(5 mM on a dry matter (DM) basis; negative control; BES) and control supplemented
with 4% (EO4) and 8% (EO8) of echium oil (g · 100–1 g DM). Methane
production and the proportion of methanogens in total rumen prokaryote 16S rDNA
from effluents and solid residues were decreased by EO8. Oil supplementation
did not affect total volatile fatty acid production and digestibility of DM and neutral
detergent fibre, but increased propionate proportion. Despite the in vitro results
suggesting that echium oil is a promising natural strategy for the mitigation of enteric
methane, it is difficult to distinguish whether the observed effects are due to
secondary metabolites, a particular fatty acid, or mixtures of fatty acids contained
in the echium oil.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 3 - 10 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | First published - 2015 |
Keywords
- Rumen fermentation