In Vitro Screening of the Foliage of Eucalyptus Species Harvested in Different Seasons for Modulating Rumen Fermentation and Methane Production

Egon Henrique Horst, Hajer Ammar, Mohamed Larbi Khouja, Julio Ernesto Vargas, Sonia Andrés and Secundino López ()
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Egon Henrique Horst: Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), Finca Marzanas, Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain
Hajer Ammar: Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture de Mograne (ESAM) de Mograne, Zaghouan 1121, Tunisia
Mohamed Larbi Khouja: Institut National de Recherche en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts (INRGREF), Rue Hédi EL Karray El Menzah IV BP 10, Ariana 2080, Tunisia
Julio Ernesto Vargas: Ciencias Veterinarias CIENVET Research Team, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10, Manizales 170004, Caldas, Colombia
Sonia Andrés: Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), Finca Marzanas, Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain
Secundino López: Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), Finca Marzanas, Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-9

Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of five eucalyptus species ( Eucalyptus camaldulensis , E. leucoxylon , E. astringens , E. sideroxylon , and E. lehmannii ), harvested in spring, autumn, or winter from two Tunisian arboretums, on in vitro rumen fermentation and methanogenesis. Batch cultures were performed to determine rumen fermentation kinetics and end-product formation after 24 h of incubation. The foliage of the species E. sideroxylon and E. lehmannii showed the greatest digestibility coefficients, whereas E. leucoxylon was the least digestible. Acetate-to-propionate ratio was reduced when E. sideroxylon and E. lehmannii were incubated, and these species were also the most efficient at reducing methane emission. Foliage harvested in winter showed greater digestibility and an increase in the acetate-to-propionate ratio than in other seasons, without an increase in methane emission. Foliage from E. sideroxylon and E. lehmannii showed a potential to decrease enteric methane production without depressing effects on ruminal fermentation. In vivo studies would be necessary to conclusively validate these effects as the first step towards proposing the inclusion of eucalyptus leaves in ruminant diets.

Keywords: browse tree; rumen; in vitro fermentation; methane; ruminant feedstuff (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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