Farm ruminants are responsible for about 15 percent of total global methane emission due to enteric fermentation of feeds. Additives are being used to modify rumen fermentation towards reduced methanogenesis, however, hazards associated with feeding of antibiotics and other chemical compounds to livestock for improving animal performance and methane mitigation are growing public awareness and encourage the research towards exploiting natural products as feed additives. Therefore, an experiment was carried out to examine the potential of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) leaves essential oils in modulating rumen fermentation for reduced methane production in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Essential oils were extracted both from dried and fresh eucalyptus leaves, separately in Soxhlet's apparatus by organic solvent, hexane [15 g leaves extracted in 100 ml n-hexane (mol. wt. 86.18, assay 99.0 percent and density 0.658)] for 72 h and tested at three dose levels (0, 0.5 and 2.0 ml) in buffered rumen fluid (BRF). Oats hay (200+-5 mg) was used as substrate and incubated with 30 ml BRF in 100 ml calibrated glass syringes at 39 deg C for 24 h following standard in vitro gas production protocol. Gas production was recorded by displacement of piston in the syringe. Methane in the gas phase and volatile fatty acids in the fermentation medium were estimated by Gas Chromatograph (GC). The total gas production and dry matter digestibility was increased (P LT 0.05) at low dose (0.5 ml) of eucalyptus leaves extract, irrespective of nature of leaves however, these were reduced (P LT 0.05) at higher dose (2.0 ml). Methane production was reduced (P LT 0.05), irrespective of doses. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) production were increased (P LT 0.05) at low dose but higher dose detrimentally reduced it. Rumen ammonia - N was not affected at low dose however, it was reduced at high dose of extract. Extracts from both dried and fresh leaves behaved similarly in modulating all the rumen fermentation parameters at corresponding dose levels. Results of this study revealed reduced methane production with increased feed digestibility and volatile fatty acids production by dosing extract of eucalyptus leaves. Therefore, it suggests using of either extract of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) leaves (0.5 ml/30 ml rumen fluid) or its corresponding dose of leaves as feed additive in buffaloes.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of soluble carbohydrate and protein supplementation on feed digestibility and rumen characteristics of swamp buffaloes fed total mixed fiber (TMF) silage by using an in vitro technique. A completely randomized design with 3 treatments (soluble carbohydrate (SCH) and protein ratio) and 6 replicates was used. Treatments consisted of total mixed fiber silage rations with SCH: protein ratio of 300 g : 300 g (1 : 1) (A1), SCH : protein ratio of 600 g : 300 g (2 : 1) (A2), and SCH : protein ratio of 900 g : 300 g (3 : 1) (A3). Measurements were taken on nutrient digestibility rates (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and crude fiber), fiber digestibility rates (NDF, ADF, cellulose, and hemicellulose), and rumen fermentation condition (concentrations of RAN, total VFA, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and methane and pH). Results showed that significant effects (P LT 0.05) of treatments were found on nutrient digestibility rates (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fiber, ADF, cellulose, and hemicellulose), rumen fermentation conditions (concentrations of RAN, total VFA, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and CH4). Meanwhile, no effects (P GT 0.05) of treatments were found on NDF digestibility and pH levels. It was concluded that TMF silage ration supplemented with SCH and protein ratio of 3 : 1 (900 g : 300 g) gave the best results in terms of nutrient digestibility rates and rumen fermentation condition of swamp buffaloes.

Buffaloes presented to the Veterinary College and Research Institute Hospital with achezia were subjected to detailed anamnesis, clinical, haemato-biochemical examinations and ultrasonography. Ten buffaloes with functional ileus were selected by excluding the mechanical obstruction and peritonitis. These animals were administered with neostigmine, azithromycin along with intravenous fluids, streptopenicillin and flunixin meglumine for three days. Improvement in the clinical condition in terms of voiding of dung, resumption of rumination, feed and water intakes were noticed.