Effect of coconut (Cocos nucifera) meal on growth and rumen methane production of Sindhi cattle fed cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) pulp and Elephant grass (Pennisetum pupureum)

摘要

ThisstudyfocusedontheeffectofcoconutoilmealongrowthperformanceandmethaneemissionsingrowingcattlefedElephanggrassandcassavapulp.TwentyfemaleSindhicattlewereallocatedtofivetreatmentsinfivepensaccordingtoarandomizedcompleteblockdesign(RCBD).Thetreatmentswerelevelsofcoconutoilmealof:0,0.25,0.5,0.75and1.0percentofliveweightperday.Thebasaldietwasfreshcassavapulpandelephantgrassfedatlevelsof1and2%ofliveweight(DMbasis),respectively.Growthratewasincreased,feedconversionwasimprovedandeructedmethanedecreasedwithincreasingamountsofcoconutoilmealinthediet.Thesolubilityofthedietproteinwasreducedwhenthecoconutmealconcentrationinthedietincreasedandwasdirectlyrelatedtothereductionineructedmethane.AdirecteffectoftheoilinthecoconutmealreducingmethanogenesisthroughindirecteffectsonrumenprotozoapopulationmayalsohavecontributedtothereductioninmethanewhenElephantgrasswassupplementedwithnbsp;coconutmeal.