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Effect of condensed tannins from Leucaena leucocephala on rumen fermentation, methane production and population of rumen protozoa in heifers fed low-quality forage

2017; Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies; Volume: 31; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.5713/ajas.17.0192

1976-5517

Ángel Trinidad Piñeiro-Vázquez, Jorge Rodolfo Canúl-Solís, Guillermo O. Jiménez-Ferrer, José Armando Alayón Gamboa, Alfonso Juventino Chay-Canúl, A. J. Ayala‐Burgos, Carlos Fernando Aguilar-Pérez, Juan Carlos Kú-Vera,

Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology

The aim of the experiment was to assess the effect of increasing amounts of Leucaena leucocephala forage on dry matter intake (DMI), organic matter intake (OMI), enteric methane production, rumen fermentation pattern and protozoa population in cattle fed Pennisetum purpureum and housed in respiration chambers.Five crossbred heifers (Bos taurus×Bos indicus) (BW: 295±6 kg) were fed chopped P. purpureum grass and increasing levels of L. leucocephala (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of dry matter [DM]) in a 5×5 Latin square design.The voluntary intake and methane production were measured for 23 h per day in respiration chambers; molar proportions of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were determined at 6 h postprandial period. Molar concentration of VFAs in rumen liquor were similar (p>0.05) between treatments. However, methane production decreased linearly (p 0.05) in rumen protozoa population were found.Inclusion of 80% of L. leucocephala in the diet of heifers fed low-quality tropical forages has the capacity to reduce up to 61.3% enteric methane emission without affecting DMI, OMI, and protozoa population in rumen liquor.