Effect of forage conservation and inclusion of condensed tannins on in vitro gas and methane production
2016
Rufino-Moya, PJ | Lobón, S | Blanco, M | Sanz, A | Joy, M
Condensed tannins can reduce methane emissions coming from the ruminal fermentation of forage. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of forage conservation (hay vs. fresh) and the inclusion of condensed tannins [CT, 10 per cent of Quebracho (Schinopsis Balansae) with 75 per cent of CT] in the concentrate (Control vs. CT) on in vitro gas and methane production and the ruminal degradability of organic matter (IVOMD) at 24 h. The diets contained 70 per cent forage and 30 per cent concentrate. Gas production (ml per g organic matter (OM)) was not affected by the forage conservation or tannin inclusion in the concentrate (P greater than 0.05). Regarding the kinetic parameters of gas production, the asymptotic gas production was similar in both forages, but the gas production rate was greater in pasture than in hay (P less than 0.001). The kinetic parameters were not affected by tannin inclusion. Methane production (ml per g OM) was affected by the interaction between the forage conservation and concentrate (P less than 0.01). Methane production decreased by 20.5 per cent when tannin was included in the hay diet but did not change in the pasture diet (P greater than 0.05). The IVOMD was only affected by the forage conservation in the diet, being greater for the diet with fresh vs. hay pasture (74.1 per cent and 61.6 oper cent, respectively; P less than 0.001). In conclusion, the use of concentrate with condensed tannins in ewes’ diets reduced methane production in diets containing hay but not in those based on pasture. Gas production and IVOMD were unaffected by the inclusion of condensed tannins in the diet, regardless of the conservation of forage
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