Effect of supplementation of Kappaphycus alvarezii based seaweed product on rumen fermentation parameters under in vitro conditions

Abstract

In vitro trials were conducted to study the effect of supplementation of different levels (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0%) of K. alvarezii based seaweed product (K. Alvarezii powder:  Gracilaria salicornia powder: K. alvarezii sap powder in 1: 1: 1 ratio) to basal substrate on digestibility and rumen fermentation parameters. The results showed that supplementation of different levels (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0%) of K. alvarezii based seaweed product to the basal substrate (sugargraze fodder and concentrate mixture in 60: 40 ratio) did not affect in vitro true DM and OM digestibility, total gas production, methane production, ammonia-N, microbial biomass production and metabolisable energy values to any significant extent.