Vol. 7, Issue 4 (2018)

Author(s):
T Parthasarathi, A Sarat Chandra, DBV Ramana and J Raju

Abstract:
The present study was designed with the objective of in vitro and in vivo evaluation of methane emissions with tanniferaous feeds in Deccani ram lambs. In vitro studies were conducted to select one tanniferous diet based on in vitro dry matter digestibilities (IVDMD) and mean methane emissions for inclusion in vivo studies. During second phase in vivo studies, 12 Deccani ram lambs of uniform body weight (16.5±0.64 kg with130.11±3.00 days of age) were randomly allotted to 2 treatments in a completely randomized design. Metabolic studies conducted for nutrient digestibility studies and Respiratory chamber was used for estimation of methane emissions In in vitro studies observed that 3.6 per cent increase in vitro dry matter digestibilities and 3.2 per cent reduction in methane emissions with T1 (Horse gram) tannins over group average. In in vivo studies, the nutrient digestibilities increased (P<0.05) with horse gram meal inclusion. Mean enteric methane emissions (l/day) were significantly (P<0.01) lower (10.05± 0.39) with tanniferous horse gram meal than control (11.59± 0.70) lambs (Group I) and the reduction is 9.4 percent of daily methane emissions over control group. It may be concluded that inclusion of tanniferous protein source increased nutrient digestibilities and decreased enteric methane emissions, suggesting that the energy loss for ruminants in the form of methane emissions can be reduced efficiently.