Influence of feed supplement based on Andrographis paniculata and irradiated chitosan on in vitro fermentation and methane production of selected forage

Abstract

The Wallacean region of Indonesia, specifically the Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi regions in Indonesia, carry a large population of cattle. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate methane production from forage-based feed in this region. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feed supplement containing Andrographis paniculata and irradiated chitosan on the in vitro fermentation and methane production, of forage-based rations in this region. This study evaluates five forages that are mainly used as feed ingredients by smallholder farmers nnamely, (Sorghum forage, Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott, Pennisetum purpupoides, Indigofera zollingeriana and cocoa pod husk. That five forages were supplemented with Andrographis paniculata and irradiated chitosan. There were a total of 10 treatments with four replications. The samples were subjected to in vitro analysis using the gas production technique. There was no differences between the treatment with and without feed supplements on in vitro gas production. There was no interaction between feed supplement addition and forage type. Feed supplement addition influence pH (P<0.05) and single chain fatty acids (SCFAs) value (P<0.01). The addition of feed supplements with added Andrographis paniculata and irradiated chitosan in the Pennisetum purpupoides forage can reduce the production of enteric methane (P<0.05). The results suggest that, except for sorghum forages, the addition of feed supplements tended to reduce methane gas emissions from forage samples. Moreover, except for pH and SCFAs, In vitro gas production and digestibility of forage from eastern Indonesia were not affected by the addition of feed supplement.