Influence of lucerne fodder supplementation on enteric methane emission in crossbred calves

TL;DRAbstract

Crossbred calves (6) were fed on wheat straw based total mixed ration (TMR-l) consisting R: C 60:40 and than shifted on isonitrogenous TMR-2 in which 50% wheat straw of TMR-l was replaced with lucerne fodder (saponins 2%) on DM basis. DMI, nutrient utilization and methane emission were studied on both feeding regimes. DM intake (kg/d) in crossbred calves was higher on TMR-2 than on TMR 1. DMIIIOO kg BW was higher on feeding TMR-2 than on TMR. Similarly, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen intake on feeding TMR-2 was higher than that on TMR-I, which, resulted in higher nitrogen excretion through faeces and urine. Methane emission (gl kg DMI) on feeding TMR1 and TMR-2 was 17.38±1.49 and 12.20±O.99, respectively, showing reduction of methane emission by adding 30% lucerne fodder (second cut) in TMR-2 as compared to TMR-l, which was attributed to the dietary saponins through lucerne fodder (total intake 21.78g). Gross energy loss in the form of methane was more on feeding TMR-l (5.44%) t

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