Artemisia plant oil effectively reduces enteric methane emissionsin Sahiwal calves

ANKIT  KUMAR; NISHU  DEVI; PARUL  CHAUDHARY; PRASANTH M  NAIR; SANJIT  MAITI; GOUTAM  MONDAL

doi:10.56093/ijans.v96i1.172763

Authors

ANKIT KUMAR ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) Karnal, Haryana 132 001 India
NISHU DEVI ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) Karnal, Haryana 132 001 India
PARUL CHAUDHARY ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) Karnal, Haryana 132 001 India
PRASANTH M NAIR ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) Karnal, Haryana 132 001 India
SANJIT MAITI ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) Karnal, Haryana 132 001 India
GOUTAM MONDAL ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) Karnal, Haryana 132 001 India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v96i1.172763

Keywords:

Average daily gain, Body weight change, Essential oil, Enteric methane, Livestock, Sahiwal calves

Abstract

Livestock sector significantly contributed to atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) leading to climate change. Several plants and their products can reduce the enteric methane emission from ruminant livestock. In the present study, the potential of Artemisia annua essential oil (EO) to reduce methane production in ruminants was investigated. In vitro trials with 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 ppm of essential oil supplementation in a 60:40 (roughage to concentrate) ratio revealed significant methane reduction at 50 ppm (20.90%) and 100 ppm (27.31%) with improved IVDMD and IVOMD (P<0.005). Acetate production decreased significantly at 50 ppm supplementation while propionate decreased beyond 100 ppm. Subsequently, fifteen male Sahiwal calves were grouped into group (Control, T1 and T2) for 70 day feeding trial. Control animals were fed only basal diet while EO at 50 and 100 ppm level was added
to T1 and T2 groups, respectively. Results revealed no significant differences in body weight, daily gain, DMI, FCR, digestibility or nitrogen balance between the groups (>0.05). Enteric methane emission (g/d) decreased significantly in T1 by 13.36% and in T2 by 10.83% compared to the control. Methane emissions (g/kg DMI) also decreased by 18.52% in T1 and 14.18% in T2 as compared to control. Artemisia annua essential oil at 50 and 100 ppm mitigated enteric methane while maintaining normal nutrient utilization and growth. Therefore, Artemisia annua EO may be an option to reduce enteric emission and sustainable dairy production.

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