Effect of feeding garlic leaves on rumen fermentation, methane emission, plasma glucose kinetics, and nitrogen utilization in sheep

Abstract

BackgroundGarlic and its constituents are reported to have been effective in reducing methane emission and also influence glucose metabolism in body; however, studies in ruminants using garlic leaves are scarce. Garlic leaves contain similar compounds as garlic bulbs, but are discarded in field after garlic bulb harvest. We speculate that feeding garlic leaves might show similar effect as garlic constituents in sheep and could be potential animal feed supplement. Thus, we examined the effect of freeze dried garlic leaves (FDGL) on rumen fermentation, methane emission, plasma glucose kinetics and nitrogen utilization in sheep.MethodsSix sheep were fed Control diet (mixed hay and concentrate (60:40)) or FDGL diet (Control diet supplemented with FDGL at 2.5 g/kg BW0.75 of sheep) using a crossover design. Methane gas emission was measured using open-circuit respiratory chamber. Plasma glucose turnover rate was measured using isotope dilution technique of [U-13C]glucose. Rumen fluid, feces and urine were collected to measure rumen fermentation characteristics and nitrogen utilization.ResultNo significant difference in rumen fermentation parameters was noticed except for rumen ammonia tended to be higher (0.05 < P < 0.1) in FDGL diet. Methane emission per kg dry matter ingested and methane emission per kg dry matter digested were lower (P < 0.05) in FDGL diet. Plasma glucose concentration was similar between diets and plasma glucose turnover rate tended to be higher in FDGL diet (0.05 < P < 0.1). Nitrogen retention was higher (P < 0.05) and microbial nitrogen supply tended to be higher (0.05 < P < 0.1) in FDGL diet.ConclusionFDGL diet did not impair rumen fermentation, improved nitrogen retention; while absence of significant results in reduction of methane emission, glucose turnover rate and microbial nitrogen supply, further studies at higher dose would be necessary to conclude the merit of FDGL as supplement in ruminant feedstuff.

Garlic skin induced shifts in the rumen microbiome and metabolome of fattening sheep

“…Recent ndings showed that the garlic (for example garlic powder), garlic extracts (for example garlic oil) and garlic by-products (for example garlic husk and garlic leaf) had potential to modify rumen fermentation, improve animal performance, and might be an alternative for growth promoting feed antibiotics [16][17][18]. In the present study, an increase of ADG was observed in the GAS group compared with that in the control group, which is consistent with previous study [18].…”

Farklı sarımsak yağı dozlarının, korunga otunun in vitro gaz üretimi, rumen fermantasyonu ve metan üretimi üzerine etkisi

“…Bu sorunu çözmek için antibiyotiklere alternatif olabilecek yem katkı maddelerinin geliştirilmesine yönelik çalışmalar artmıştır. Bu çalışmalar sonucu aromatik bitki ve bu bitkilerden izole edilen esansiyel yağların antibiyotiklere alternatif olabilecekleri ortaya konulmuştur (11,14,23,36). Esansiyel yağların çeşitli mikroorganizmalara karşı bakterisit, fungusit ve antiparazitik etkiye sahip oldukları bildirilmektedir (5, 10,11,12,36).…”

“…Bu çalışmalar sonucu aromatik bitki ve bu bitkilerden izole edilen esansiyel yağların antibiyotiklere alternatif olabilecekleri ortaya konulmuştur (11,14,23,36). Esansiyel yağların çeşitli mikroorganizmalara karşı bakterisit, fungusit ve antiparazitik etkiye sahip oldukları bildirilmektedir (5, 10,11,12,36). Bu yağların antimikrobiyal mekanizmaları henüz tam olarak aydınlatılmamasına rağmen, mikrooganizmaların hücre zarı lipid (lipofilik) tabakasının (3), kimyasal yapısı (5, 13) ile hücre duvarı enzimlerini olumsuz etkileyerek yapılarını bozdukları ve gelişmelerini sınırlamak suretiyle etki yaptıkları bildirilmektedir (4, 5).…”

“…(5,24). Ayrıca esansiyel yağların rumen fermantasyonunun kontrolünde kullanılması da gündeme gelmiştir (20,36,38). Bu esansiyel yağlardan birisini sarımsak yağı (SY) oluşturmaktadır.…”

Yield survey and nutritional evaluation of garlic stalk for ruminant feed

“…Chu et al [9] reported an improvement in meat quality and economic income when garlic stalk silage was fed to steers during the fattening period. More recently, Panthee et al [11] reported that inclusion of garlic leaves at 2.5 g/(kg BW 0.75 ·d) had no negative effects on ruminal fermentation characteristics and had positive N utilization in sheep. These studies investigated the feed value of garlic stalk silage for beef cattle, or the bioactive components in garlic stem and leaf silage for sheep.…”