Effect of Various Washing Pre-treatments of Native Codium fragile as a Feed Additive on Rumen in vitro Fermentation and Methane Production

This study aimed to investigate the effects of various washing pre-treatments of native Codium fragile as a feed additive on in vitro ruminal fermentation and CH4 production in ruminants. Seaweed was included at 0.5% dry matter (DM) based on the experimental feed (forage : concentrate = 3:7). Treatment groups were classified as follows: experimental feed (C), no washing (T1), washing at 0℃ (T2), washing at 22℃ (T3) and washing at 70℃ (T4) each immersed for 6 minutes in distilled water. The pH consistently fell within the ruminal stability range. In vitro dry matter digestibility was significantly highest in T2, T3, T4 and C, T4 was the lowest at 48 h (p<0.05). NH3-N concentration was significantly highest in T4 at 48 h (p<0.05). Total gas production at 48 h was 19% lower in T4 compared to C (p<0.01). CH4 production (mL/g DM) at 48 h was lower in all treatment groups compared to C, with T3 showing a 31% reduction (p<0.01). Similarly, CH4 production (mL/g dry matter degradability, DMD) at 48 h was 39% lower for T3 compared to C (p<0.01). At 24 h, total VFA was significantly highest in T1 and T4 (p<0.05). The proportions of acetate was significantly highest in C and T3 was the lowest at 48 h (p<0.01). The proportions of propionate was significantly highest in T3 and C was the lowest at 48 h (p<0.01). The acetate to propionate ratio was singnificantly highest in C at 48 h (p<0.01). The proportions of butyrate at 24 h was lower for T3 compared to C (p<0.05). Therefore, this study confirms that Codium fragile can reduce CH4 production when used as a feed additive for ruminants and this effect is not significantly influenced by the washing pre-treatment. However, if washing process is necessary, washing at 22℃ is the most appropriate method to remove foreign objects