• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.95-105
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• 2016

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of nitrate-rich plants extracts on the in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics and rumen methane production. The extracts of nitrate-rich plants, as potato, carrot, chinese cabbage, lettuce and spinach were used in this study. The ruminal fluid was collected from a cannulated Hanwoo cow fed concentrate and timothy in the ratio of 6 to 4. The 20mL of mixture, comparing McDougall's buffer and rumen fluid in the ratio 2 to 1, was dispensed anaerobically 50mL serum bottles containing 0.3g of timothy substrate and extracts of nitrogen-rich plants. The serum bottles were incubated 39℃ for 9, 12, 24, 48 hours. The pH value was decreased by increased incubation times and normal range to 6.31 to 6.96. The dry matter digestibility was significantly(p<0.05) lower in chinese cabbage than in control at 9h incubation time. Ammonia concentration was significantly(p<0.05) lower in potato, chinese cabbage, lettuce than in control and the rumen microbial growth rate was significantly(p<0.05) higher in carrot than in control at 24h incubation time. The concentrations of acetate and propionate was significantly(p<0.05) lower in treatment than in control. The concentration of butyrate was showed a different pattern depending on treatments. Total gas emissions was significantly(p<0.05) lower in chinese cabbage, lettuce, spinach than in control at 12h, 24h incubation time. Methane production was significantly(p<0.05) lower in potato, chinese cabbage, spinach than in control, carbon dioxide production was significantly(p<0.05) lower in treatment than in control. In conclusion, supplementation of the nitrate-rich plant extracts in ruminal fermentation in vitro resulted in decreasing the methane production without adversely affecting the fermentation characteristics. Particularly the chinese cabbage extract was regard as a potential candidate for reducing the methane emission in ruminants.