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

Abstract

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%) than that on TMR-2 (3.72%), showing that the incorporation of lucerne fodder to the wheat straw based total mixed ration diet at 30% level can increase DM intake and nutrient utilization and reduce methane emission. Therefore, the incorporation of saponins in the fonn of lucerne in total mixed ration at the level of O.6%/kg DMI resulted in reduction in methane emission.