Effects of plants and essential oils on ruminal in vitro batch culture methane production and fermentation

J. A. Tekippe, Alexander Nikolov Hristov, K. S. Heyler, V. D. Zheljazkov, J. F.S. Ferreira, C. L. Cantrell, G. A. Varga

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this study, plants (14) and essential oils (EO; 88) from plants that are naturalized to, or can be successfully grown in North America were evaluated in a batch culture in vitro screening experiments with ruminal fluid as potential anti-methanogenic additives for ruminant diets. Essential oils were tested at four inclusion levels: 0 (blank), 10, 50, and 100 mg L-1 and plants were tested at 313, 1250, 2500, and 5000 mg L-1 final incubation medium concentration. Compared with the blank, two of the EO increased acetate concentration (8 to 10%), 11 EO increased propionate concentration (9 to 23%), 10 EO increased butyrate concentration (24 to 29%), and three EO reduced methane production [20 to 30%; Anethum graveolens (dill weed oil), Lavandula latifolia, and Ocimum basilicum #7 accession]. Four EO decreased and one increased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradability. Three plants increased acetate concentration (8 to 12%), two increased propionate concentration (16%), and one (Origanum vulgare) decreased methane production (31%). Eight of the plants increased NDF degradability at various inclusion levels. Overall, these results indicate that some EO, or EO-producing plants could have a potential anti-methanogenic effect. Further research is needed to verify these results in vivo in long-term experiments.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)395-408
Number of pages14
JournalCanadian Journal of Animal Science
Volume92
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Food Animals
  • Animal Science and Zoology

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