Effect of copper and cobalt nanoparticles supplementation on methane emission and milk production in Gir cows fed with rice gruel diet

Abstract

The feeding of rice gruel is common practice in India. The feeding of rice gruel causes metabolic diseases. The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of nanomineralson methane emission and milk production in Gir cows fed on rice gruel-based diet. All animals were divided into 3 groups. Animals were fed with cooked rice replaced in concentrate part of total diet. Parameters studied were feed intake, rumen fermentation pattern parameters (Ammonia nitrogen, methane emission, total volatile fatty acids, and microbial population), milk production, milk composition parameters (Fat, SNF, protein, total solids, total ash).The genes involved in the milk production and methanogenic bacterial population were also studied using real time PCR. The Ammonia nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids, milk production and bacterial count was found to be improved (p < 0.05) in both mega and nano mineral supplemented group. The feed intake was found to be decreased (p < 0.05) in nano mineral supplemented group. There was no significant difference in methane emission between the treatment, but the numerical reduction was observed in both mega and nano mineral supplemented groups. There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) in the milk composition and protozoal count.There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) among treatment groups for the CSN2 gene expression, even though inorganic and nano mineral supplemental group revealed numerically higher fold gene expression change for CSN2. The SLC2A8 gene was found to be upregulated (p < 0.05) in inorganic and nano mineral supplementation group compared to the control group.