Investigation of potential new opportunities for plant extracts on rumen microbial fermentation in vitro
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: The fermentation characteristics of adding different levels (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 ml/75 ml buffered rumen fluid) of plant extracts to a basal substrate (50% roughage:50% concentrate) were evaluated in vitro by a semi automatic gas production (GP) technique. The investigated plant extracts were thyme (Thymes capitus - T0.5, T1.0, T1.5), fennel (Foenicum vulgary - F0.5, F1.0, F1.5), ginger (Zingiber officinale - G0.5, G1.0, G1.5) and black seed (Nigila sativa - BS0.5, BS1.0, BS1.5). The plant extracts linearly increased GP by 11.7 and 59.7% for T1.5 and BS1.0, respectively except G1.5 and BS1.5 which the GP decreased by 4.6 and 22.5%, respectively. All the plant extracts increased the methane concentration from 53 to 166% except BS1.5 that decreased methane by 64.1%. Efficiency of microbial protein production was estimated in vitro by the partitioning factor (PF). All the extracts, except BS1.5, decreased the PF value. Although inclusion of thyme extract increased the GP, it decreased significantly the dry and organic matter degradation (DMD and OMD). On the other hand, the F1.5 improved significantly (P < 0.05) DMD and OMD. The black seed and fennel extract significantly decreased the NH3-N concentration, while T0.5, T 1.0, G1.0 and G1.5 increased it. The G0.5, BS 1.5, G 1.0, and G1.5 extracts decreased the protozoa number by 25.4, 25.4, 30.5 and 37.3%, respectively, while the thyme and fennel extract increased the protozoa number. This study suggested that the plant extracts have the potential to affect fermentation efficiency, and black seed extract could be a promising methane mitigating agent.
Authors: Sobhy M. A. Sallam, Ives Cláudio da Silva Bueno, Priscila Brigide, Priscilla Brandi Gomes Godoy, Dorinha Miriam Silber Schmidt Vitti, Adibe Luiz Abdalla
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2158779648