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In vitro methane and gas production with inocula from cows and goats fed an identical diet
Author(s) -
Mengistu Genet,
Hendriks Wouter H,
Pellikaan Wilbert F
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.8597
Subject(s) - ruminant , rumen , fermentation , fodder , silage , biology , zoology , food science , chemistry , botany , agronomy , pasture
BACKGROUND Fermentative capacity among ruminants can differ depending on the type of ruminant species and the substrate fermented. The aim was to compare in vitro cow and goat rumen inocula in terms of methane (CH 4 ) and gas production (GP), fermentation kinetics and 72 h volatile fatty acids (VFA) production using the browse species Acacia etbaica , Capparis tomentosa , Dichrostachys cinerea , Rhus natalensis , freeze‐dried maize silage and grass silage, and a concentrate as substrates. RESULTS Total GP, CH 4 and VFA were higher ( P ≤ 0.008) in goat inoculum than cows across substrates. The half‐time for asymptotic GP was lower ( P < 0.0001) in phase 1 and higher ( P < 0.012) in phase 2, and the maximum rate of GP was higher ( P < 0.0001) in phase 1 and phase 3 ( P < 0.0001) in goats compared to cows. Methane production and as a percentage of total GP was higher ( P < 0.0001) and the half‐time tended ( P = 0.059) to be at a later time for goats compared to cows. CONCLUSION Goat inoculum showed higher fermentative activity with a concomitant higher CH 4 production compared to cows. This difference highlights the ability of goats to better utilise browse species and other roughage types. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry