Effects of different fresh-cut forages and their hays on feed intake, digestibility, heat production, and ruminal methane emission by Boer × Spanish goats1

Abstract

Twenty-four yearling Boer × Spanish wethers were used to assess effects of different forages, either fresh (Exp. 1) or as hay (Exp. 2), on feed intake, digestibilities, heat production, and ruminal methane emission. Treatments were: 1) Sericea lespedeza (SER; Lespedeza cuneata), a legume high in condensed tannins (CT; 20% and 15% in fresh forage and hay, respectively), 2) SER supplemented with polyethylene glycol (SER-PEG; 25 g/d), 3) alfalfa (Medicago sativa), a legume low in CT (ALF), and 4) sorghumsudangrass (Sorghum bicolor), a grass low in CT (GRASS). Experiments were 22 d, which included 16 d for acclimatization followed by a 6-d period for fecal and urine collection, and gas exchange measurement (last 2 d).

Efficacy of a Quebracho, Conker Tree, and M. balsamea Willd Blended Extract in a Randomized Study in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation

“…Fermentation of grasses and other forage in the bovine gut leads to gas production reducing the utilization of feed sources adversely affecting meat and milk production [28][29][30] . Therefore, a variety of tannins have been used as feed additives to decrease gases such as hydrogen and methane in cows and other animals.…”

“…These molecules potentially have dual function; acting as a molecular sink for excess hydrogen and methane as well as disrupting and destroying bacterial lipid bilayers [27,28] . Ruminants fed tannins show reduced emission of methane [29,30] . Conker Tree extract, which contains escins also known as saponins, have been shown to act as an antimicrobial agent to promote intestinal motility [31] and may directly reduce methane production/emission [32,33] .…”

Potential of condensed tannins for the reduction of emissions of enteric methane and their effect on ruminant productivity

“…Rumen protozoa also represent an important factor in methane synthesis, since they live in symbiosis with the Archaea with whom there may be an interspecific transfer of H 2 (Johnson and Johnson 1995), rumen defaunation and therefore of the population of methanogens, leads to a reduction of the emission of enteric methane (Puchala et al 2012).…”

“…In addition to their high crude protein content (10-25%) and good digestibility (50-60%) (table 1), plants rich in condensed tannins have the capacity to reduce bacterial and protozoal populations in the rumen and the emissions of CH 4 (Puchala et al 2012) , furthermore, condensed tannins have the ability to create complexes with the polysaccharides and proteins thus increasing the amount of protein of low rumen degradability which flow to the small intestine, favouring the increase in daily live weight gain and milk production (Min et al 2006).…”

Smart Man’s Sericea Lespedeza and Worm Control: A Review

“…With a deep root system, ability to persist under a wide range of soil conditions and its tendency to shed lower leaves, sericea lespedeza is an ideal conservation plant, building soil fertility, improving soil structure and reducing erosion. It is also environmentally-friendly as a feed for ruminants, reducing activity of methanogenic bacteria in the rumen [4,5,21]. The health benefits of this plant to both animals and humans include its anti-bloat, anti-microbial (including pathogenic bacteria, such as Escherichia coli) and anti-parasitic properties [9,22].…”