Effect of fumaric acid supplementation on methanogenesis and rumen fermentation in Barbari goats

Abstract

Methane production in barbari goats was studied using Open Circuit Respiration chamber. A metabolism trial followed
by respiration chamber trial was conducted in adult male Barbari goats (mean body weight of 15±0.7 kg) which were
divided into 3 groups (control, T1 and T2) of 2 each as per 2×3 switch over design. Animals were fed concentrate
mixture and wheat straw in a ratio of 30:70 to meet out their nutrient requirements (NRC 2007). Animals of treatment
1 and 2 were fed on a diet supplemented with fumaric acid (FA) @ 2.5 and 5% of DM intake, respectively. The rumen
liquor collection for rumen fermentation parameters and a respiration chamber study was carried out after metabolism
trial. There was no significant difference in rumen fermentation parameters (ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen, TCA precipitable
nitrogen, TVFA and protozoal counts) among 3 groups due to FA supplementation. However, linear increase
in rumen pH with increasing levels of FA supplementation was highly significant (P<0.01). Production of methane (L/
d) did not differ significantly among the groups. But when expressed as L/kg DM intake, methane production was
significantly (P<0.05) reduced (18.45 and 14.97%) in FA supplemented group as compared to control group. The
results showed that FA supplementation (@ of 2.5 and 5.0% of DMI) reduced substantially methane production (L/kg
DMI) without altering rumen fermentation pattern in the Barbari goats.