Work

Efficacy of fungi-degraded date pits as a potential alternative dietary energy source in farm animal diets

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Date pits (DPs) are a rich and economical source of dietary energy, and they show promise as an alternative to expensive concentrates in cattle feeding. This study examined the effect of replacing yellow corn grain with different levels of date pits treated with Aspergillus parasiticus on in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics, nutrient degradability, methanogenic community, and methane production using a semi-automatic system of gas production (GP). In the in vitro experiment, a basal diet (50% concentrate mixture and 50% clover hay) was incubated without date pits (control) and with replacement ratios (25, 50, 75, and 100%) of fungi-degraded date pits (FDDPs). Linear and quadratic reductions ( p = 0.001) in gas production (GP), truly degraded dry matter (TDDM), and truly degraded organic matter (TDOM) values were observed ( p = 0.001), with increasing levels of FDDP supplementation. However, FDDP supplementation did not affect CH 4 , PF, total protozoa, NH 3, or the molar proportions of the main short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The majority of the identified methanogen sequences grouped within the Methanobrevibacter lineage, according to phylogenetic analysis. Bootstrap values ranging from 39 to 67% confirmed the observed clustering patterns and demonstrated the evolutionary relatedness of these sequences; there were no notable differences in methane production when using varying levels of FDDP. It might be concluded from the results of this study that fermented date pits are a promising alternative to corn grain, with no detrimental effects on rumen fermentation characteristics and the methanogenic community in the feeding of ruminants.

Source: Frontiers in Veterinary Science

DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1892086