Impact of fermented total mixed rations on intake, VFA and methane production of dairy heifers Arangsri M.1, Pattarajinda V.*, Duangjinda M.1, Mungkalasiri J.2, Angthong W.3, Bernard J.K.4 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, P.O. Box 40002, Khon Kaen, Thailand 1Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, P.O. Box 40002, Khon Kaen, Thailand 2National Metal and Materials Technology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency, P.O. Box 12120, Pathumthani, Thailand 3Khon Kaen Animal Nutrition Research and Development Center, Department of Livestock Development, P.O. Box 40260, Khon Kaen, Thailand 4Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, P.O. Box 31793, Tifton, GA, USA *Corresponding author's e-mail: virotekku@hotmail.com
Online published on 16 November, 2019. Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding two fermented total mixed ration (FTMR) on methane production in dairy heifers. Four Holstein Friesian dairy heifers with mean body weight (BW) of 301.1 ± 42.2 kg were used in a simple cross-over design trial. Treatments consisted of 2 FTMR formulated to yield either low (LMD) or high CH4 production (HMD). No differences were observed in dry matter intake (DMI; 6.49 and 6.19 kg/d), BW change (−3.37 and-7.25 kg), or DM digestibility (50.64 and 46.99%) between diets. Ruminal pH, total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) and molar proportions of acetate, propionate and butyrate were not different among diets. Concentrations of blood glucose were higher (P=0.05) for HMD compared with LMD at 2 h post feeding; however, blood urea nitrogen was not different. Methane emissions were 236.32 L/d for LMD and 273.70 L/d for HMD and not different. Feeding the FTMR differing in CH4 potential did not affect DMI, digestibility, ruminal TVFA production or molar proportions of VFAs in dairy heifers. Top Keywords Dairy heifer, Fermented feed, Methane emission, Productivity, Ruminal fermentation. Top |