Comparative <i>in vitro</i> evaluation of forage legumes (prosopis, acacia, atriplex, and leucaena) on ruminal fermentation and methanogenesis

Abstract

Two experiments in vitro were conducted to evaluate four Egyptian forage legume browses, i.e., leaves of prosopis (Prosopis juliflora), acacia (Acacia saligna), atriplex (Atriplex halimus), and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), in comparison with Tifton (Cynodon sp.) grass hay for their gas production, methanogenic potential, and ruminal fermentation using a semi-automatic system for gas production (first experiment) and for ruminal and post ruminal protein degradability (second experiment). Acacia and leucaena showed pronounced methane inhibition compared with Tifton, while prosopis and leucaena decreased the acetate:propionate ratio (P<0.01). Acacia and leucaena presented a lower (P<0.01) ruminal NH 3 -N concentration associated with the decreasing (P<0.01) ruminal protein degradability. Leucaena, however, showed higher (P<0.01) intestinal protein digestibility than acacia. This study suggests that the potential methanogenic properties of leguminous browses may be related not only to tannin content, but also to other factors.

The effect of lingonberry leaves and oak cortex addition to sheep diets on pancreatic enzymes activity

“…On the other hand, tannins supplemented at a low dose to the diet may exert beneficial effects on ruminants such as improvement of feed palatability, protection of dietary protein from degradation in rumen and reduction of ruminal methanogenesis (Soltan et al, 2012). Due to different chemical structures and various biological activities, tannins are divided into two types -condensed and hydrolysable (Schofield et al, 2001).…”

Mitigating the greenhouse gas balance of ruminant production by identifying plants with high tannin concentration and quantifying the methane emission in vivo

“…Botanically, LL belongs to the Mimosaceae family and it may grow upto 7-18 metres. LL leaves have also been shown as potential ruminants diets in terms of metabolic protein supply due to high protein content SOLTAN et al, 2012) and LL has been shown anti-methanogenic properties under in vitro and in vivo studies 2013 Schinus molle is a tree which belongs to the Anacardiaceae family. The plant occurring has been reported from Minas Gerais to Rio Grande do Sul especially southern states of Brazil.…”

“…LL leaves contains high level of protein (which can able to replace soyabean meal in ruminants diets) and it also contains tannins (it could reduce CH4 production). However, several studies reported that LL can be to improve ruminal fermentation in terms of metabolic protein supply due to its high protein content SOLTAN et al, 2012). Similiarly, LL has been shown anti-methanogenic properties in vitro and in vivo 2013).…”

“…Among the several native Central and South America species of interest, 18 plants species were tested on previous studies SOLTAN et al, 2012), and three major tannin containing plants species, Leucaena leucocephala (LL), Mimosa caesalpiniifolia (MC) and Schinus molle (SM), were highlighted after tested by biological methods using in vitro gas production technique. Rodriguez et al (2014) stated that, to estimate the magnitude of the tannin effects on rumen fermentation for certain plant species by in vitro incubation of tanniferous substrates with and without PEG is simple and effective tool, irrespective of their chemical nature.…”

“…Brazil has extensive savanna type natural grassland, characterized by different communities of plants, shrubs, trees, and herbaceous fodders which present tannins in their composition and has potential as animal feed (VITTI et al, 2005a;2005b;ABDALLA et al, 2012;SOLTAN et al, 2012;LONGO et al, 2012;2013). Among such different plants,…”