• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.268-273
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• 2023

The present study estimated rumen fermentation characteristics and greenhouse gas emissions of different forages. Alfalfa, timothy, tall fescue, Italian ryegrass, and rice straw as the main forage sources for Hanwoo were used in the present study. Crude protein was highest in alfalfa but lowest in rice straw (p<0.05). Ether extract was higher in alfalfa and Italian ryegrass than in the other forages (p<0.05). Crude ash was highest in rice straw but lowest in tall fescue (p<0.05). Neutral detergent fiber was highest in tall fescue but lowest in alfalfa (p<0.05). Acid detergent fiber was highest in Italian ryegrass and rice straw but lowest in alfalfa (p<0.05). In vitro digestibilities of dry matter (DMD) and neutral detergent fiber (NDFD) were highest in timothy but lowest in rice straw (p<0.05). Rumen pH was highest (p<0.05) in alfalfa, while ammonia-N was higher (p<0.05) in alfalfa and Italian ryegrass than in the other forages. Total volatile fatty acid was highest (p<0.05) in timothy, while acetate and propionate were highest (p<0.05) in alfalfa and rice straw, respectively. Acetate to propionate ratio was higher (p<0.05) in alfalfa, timothy, and Italian ryegrass than in rice straw. Rice straw had lowest total gas (mL) (p<0.05) but highest its per DMD and NDFD. Rice straw had higher (p<0.05) CO₂ (per DMD and NDFD) compared to alfalfa (per DMD and NDFD), timothy (per DMD and NDFD), tall fescue (per NDFD), and Italian ryegrass (per DMD). Again, rice straw had higher (p<0.05) CH₄ (per DMD and NDFD) compared to timothy (per DMD and NDFD) and tall fescue (per NDFD). Therefore, this study indicates that timothy has a higher nutrient digestibility and volatile fatty acid in the rumen leading to a reduction of greenhouse gas emission.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.376-380
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• 2006

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of temperature and pH on in vitro nutrient degradability, volatile fatty acid profile and methane production. The fermenter used was the semi-continuous system, known as the rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC). Sixteen cylinders were used at one time with a volume of 800 ml, the dilution rate was set at 3.5%/hour, the infused buffer being McDougall's artificial saliva. Basal diet (9.6 g DM) used in RUSITEC consisted of (DM) 6.40 g Timothy hay, 1.86 g crushed corn and 1.34 g soybean meal. The food for the fermentation vessel was provided in nylon bags, which were gently agitated in the liquid phase. The experiment lasted for 17 d with all the samples taken during the last 5 d. Treatments were allocated at random to four vessels each and were (1) two temperature levels of $39^{\circ}C$ and $41^{\circ}C$ (2) two pH levels of 6.0 and 7.0. The total diet contained ($g\;kg^{-1}$ DM) 957 OM, 115 CP and $167MJ\;kg^{-1}$ (DM) GE. Although increase in temperature from $39^{\circ}C$ to $41^{\circ}C$ reduced degradation of major nutrients in vitro, it was non-significant. Interaction effect of temperature with pH also reflected a similar trend. However, pH showed a significant (p<0.05) negative effect on the degradability of all the nutrients in vitro. Altering the in vitro pH from 7 to 6 caused marked reduction in DMD from 60.2 to 41.8, CPD from 76.3 to 55.3 and GED from 55.3 to 35.1, respectively. Low pH (6) depressed total VFA production (61.9 vs. 34.9 mM) as well as acetate to propionate ratio in vitro (from 2.0 to 1.5) when compared to pH 7. Compared to pH 7, total gas production decreased from 1,841 ml to 1,148 ml at pH 6, $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ production also reduced from 639 to 260 ml and 138 to 45 ml, respectively. This study supported the premise that pH is one of the principal factors affecting the microbial production of volatile fatty acids and gas. Regulating the ruminal pH to increase bacterial activity may be one of the methods to optimize VFA production, reduce methane and, possibly, improve animal performance.