Chemical and phytochemical composition, in vitro ruminal fermentation, methane production, and nutrient degradability of fresh and ensiled Paulownia hybrid leaves
2021
Huang, Haihao | Szumacher-Strabel, Malgorzata | Patra, Amlan Kumar | Ślusarczyk, Sylwester | Lechniak, Dorota | Vazirigohar, Mina | Varadyova, Zora | Kozłowska, Martyna | Cieślak, Adam
Paulownia is a genus of fast-growing trees that generate a huge mass of leaves, which can be utilized as a feed resource for ruminants. In the present study, the chemical and phytochemical composition, in vitro ruminal fermentation and methane production, and nutrient degradability of fresh Paulownia hybrid leaves (PL) and its silage (PLS) were investigated. The crude protein content of PL and PLS ranged from 132 to 199 g/kg dry matter, which was comparable to alfalfa silage (AS). Ensiling of PL increased the amount of both phenolic acids and flavonoids. The amino acid content increased, and total saturated fatty acid concentration tended to increase in PLS compared with PL. In the in vitro study with the ruminal fluid (batch culture), PL and PLS decreased pH (P < 0.01) and methane emission compared with AS. Total archaea counts were lowest in PLS, intermediate in PL, and highest in AS. Fibrobacter succinogenes, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, and Prevotella spp. were higher (P ≤ 0.03) in the PL and PLS than the AS group. Ruminal ammonia concentration was lower (P < 0.01) in PLS than in PL. The total gas production and total volatile fatty acid concentrations were higher (P < 0.01) in both PL and PLS than in AS. The concentrations of acetate in PL and of propionate in PL and PLS were greater than those in AS. In the in sacco experiment, the potential degradability of DM was higher (P < 0.01) for PL and PLS than for AS. PLS had significantly the greatest potential degradability and effective degradability compared to the other groups (P < 0.001). It can be concluded that PL and PLS can mitigate methane production by inhibiting methanogens and improving ruminal fermentation characteristics. PL and PLS may serve as valuable dietary components for lactating dairy cows, which can be used year-round on a large scale; however, these in vitro results need to be validated under in vivo conditions.
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