Journal article
In vitro screening of selected feed additives, plant essential oils and plant extracts for rumen methane mitigation
Z Durmic, PJ Moate, R Eckard, DK Revell, R Williams, PE Vercoe
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture | WILEY-BLACKWELL | Published : 2014
DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.6396
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ruminants produce large quantities of methane in their rumen as a by-product of microbial digestion of feed. Antibiotics are added to ruminant feed to reduce wasteful production of methane however, this practice has some downsides. A search for safer and natural feed additives with anti-methanogenic properties is under way. The objective of this research was to examine selected feed additives, plant essential oils and plant extracts for their anti-methanogenic potential in the rumen using an in vitro batch fermentation system. RESULTS: A significant reduction (P<0.05) in methane production was observed with nine feed additives (up to 40% reduction), all eight essential oils (up t..
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Funding Acknowledgements
This study was conducted under the 'Reducing Emissions from Livestock Research Program' supported by funding from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Meat and Livestock Australia and Future Farm Industries CRC. We also thank Assoc. Prof. Kirsten Heimann and her team from MBD Energy and the Advanced Manufacturing CRC for the production and delivery of extract from N. occulata, Milne Feeds for donating feed substrate, Feedworks Australia for donating feed additives, and The Paperbark Company, Western Australia, for donating essential oils.