Effects of Eucalyptus Crude Oils Supplementation on Rumen Fermentation, Microorganism and Nutrient Digestibility in Swamp Buffaloes

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of eucalyptus (E. Camaldulensis) crude oils (EuO) supplementation on voluntary feed intake and rumen fermentation characteristics in swamp buffaloes. Four rumen fistulated swamp buffaloes, body weight (BW) of 420±15.0 kg, were randomly assigned according to a 2×2 factorial arrangement in a 4×4 Latin square design. The dietary treatments were untreated rice straw (RS) without EuO (T1) and with EuO (T2) supplementation, and 3% urea-treated rice straw (UTRS) without EuO (T3) and with EuO (T4) supplementation. The EuO was supplemented at 2 mL/h/d in respective treatment. Experimental animals were kept in individual pens and concentrate mixture was offered at 3 g/kg BW while roughage was fed ad libitum. Total dry matter and roughage intake, and apparent digestibilites of organic matter and neutral detergent fiber were improved (p<0.01) by UTRS. There was no effect of EuO supplementation on feed intake and nutrient digestibility. Ruminal pH and temperature were not (p>0.05) affected by either roughage sources or EuO supplementation. However, buffaloes fed UTRS had higher ruminal ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen as compared with RS. Total volatile fatty acid and butyrate proportion were similar among treatments, whereas acetate was decreased and propionate molar proportion was increased by EuO supplementation. Feeding UTRS resulted in lower acetate and higher propionate concentration compared to RS. Moreover, supplementation of EuO reduced methane production especially in UTRS treatment. Protozoa populations were reduced by EuO supplementation while fungi zoospores remained the same. Total, amylolytic and cellulolytic bacterial populations were increased (p<0.01) by UTRS; However, EuO supplementation did not affect viable bacteria. Nitrogen intake and in feces were found higher in buffaloes fed UTRS. A positive nitrogen balance (absorption and retention) was in buffaloes fed UTRS. Supplementation of EuO did not affect nitrogen utilization. Both allantoin excretion and absorption and microbial nitrogen supply were increased by UTRS whereas efficiency of microbial protein synthesis was similar in all treatments. Findings of present study suggested that EuO could be used as a feed additive to modify the rumen fermentation in reducing methane production both in RS and UTRS. Feeding UTRS could improve feed intake and efficiency of rumen fermentation in swamp buffaloes. However, more research is warranted to determine the effect of EuO supplementation in production animals.

Effects of natural blends of garlic and eucalypt essential oils on biogas production of four fibrous feeds at short‐term of incubation in the ruminal anaerobic biosystem

“…14,15 Moreover, eucalyptus oil (EO) exhibits substantial antibacterial properties because it contains significant amounts of tannins, phenolics, flavonoids and volatile oils. 16 Thao et al 17 discussed the biological activities of the extracted oils, including their bacteriostatic, fungistatic and anti-inflammatory activity, as well as their capability to modify ruminal biogases fermentation by reducing CH 4 production and their anti-protozoal activity. For example, significant growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli was reported by applying EO.…”

Essential oils effect on rumen fermentation and biohydrogenation under in vitro conditions

“…In contrast to these results, the VFA concentrations were reduced by the inclusion of EUO at 0.66, 1.0, 1.33, and 1.66 µl/ml (Kumar et al 2009). Also, Thao et al (2014) reported that 2 ml of EUO per day administered to swamp buffaloes reduced the proportions of acetate and acetate to propionate ratio but increased propionate proportion. Like the previous EO, EUO also increased the concentrations of ammonia-N in our cultures.…”

Research System [IKRS] for Treatment of Bloat and its Significance towards Greenhouse Gas Emission: Jharkhand, India

“…World's half of livestock population are raised in tropics and there is imminent need to address methane production by them (Thao et al, 2014). The public concern in overcoming global warming potential of animal farming operations through feed have to be taken cared (Kaufmann, 2015).…”