POTENTIALS OF RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA LEAVES AS AN ANTIMETHANOGENIC FEED ADDITIVE FOR RUMINANTS

Résumé

Methane (CH4) mitigation potentials of Rauvolfia vomitoria leaves when used as phytogenic additive was evaluated using the in vitro gas technique. Substrate (200 mg) consisting of Megathyrsus maximus and concentrate in ratio 7: 3 was incorporated with R. vomitoria leaves at levels of 0, 1, 2 and 3% dry matter (DM) in a completely randomized design. Incubation was done in 100 mL glass syringes at 39oC for 48 h with total gas and CH4 production measured. Results showed that R. vomitoria leaves contained high saponin content (10.34%). Methane production was reduced (P < 0.05) at 2% inclusion while total gas production was not significantly affected with R. vomitoria leaves inclusion. It can be concluded that R. vomitoria leaves can be used as an additive at 2% inclusion in ruminant diet for reduced methanogenesis which has beneficial implication for efficient utilization of dietary energy.