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Ruminal methanogenesis as influenced by individual fatty acids supplemented to complete ruminant diets
Author(s) -
Dohme F.,
Machmüller A.,
Wasserfallen A.,
Kreuzer M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2001.00863.x
Subject(s) - rumen , ruminant , methanogenesis , fermentation , dry matter , food science , biology , fatty acid , volatile fatty acids , zoology , methane , biochemistry , agronomy , ecology , pasture
F. DOHME, A. MACHMÜLLER, A. WASSERFALLEN AND M. KREUZER. 2001 . The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of seven different pure fatty acids on rumen fermentation using the rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC). The fatty acids were supplied to a complete ruminant diet at a proportion of 50 g kg −1 dietary dry matter and compared with an unsupplemented control. Methane release and methanogenic counts were suppressed by the fatty acids C 12 : 0 , C 14 : 0 and C 18 : 2 whereas C 8 : 0 , C 10 : 0 , C 16 : 0 and C 18 : 0 showed no corresponding effects. Apart from C 12 : 0 and C 18 : 2 , C 8 : 0 and C 10 : 0 also adversely affected ciliate protozoa suggesting independence from the methane‐suppressing effect of medium‐chain fatty acids (MCFA). Although MCFA but not C 18 : 2 reduced ruminal fibre degradation, the influence on other fermentation traits remained low. In conclusion, the supply of certain fatty acids to ruminant diets seems to have the potential to reduce methane release.