Impact of the flour of Jerusalem artichoke on the production of methane and carbon dioxide and growth performance in calves

摘要

Aim: The aim of the research was to evaluate the growth performance, to measure the amount of methane (CHsub4/sub) and carbon dioxide (COsub2/sub) in calves' rumen, and to compare the obtained results between the control group (CoG) and the experimental group (Pre12) which received the additional supplement of the prebiotic inulin. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted with ten Holstein Friesian (iBos taurus/i L.) crossbreed calves with an average age of 33±6 days. Calves were split into two groups: 5 calves that were fed with the control non-supplemented diet (CoG) and 5 calves that were fed with the same diet further supplemented with 12 g of flour of Jerusalem artichoke (iHelianthus tuberosus/i L.) containing 6 g of prebiotic inulin per 0.5 kg of barley flour diet (Pre12). The duration of the experiment was 56 days. CHsub4/sub and COsub2/sub were measured using cavity ringdown spectroscopy device Picarro G2508. The weight and samples from calves' rumen were evaluated 3 times during the experimental period - on the 1st, 28th, and 56th days. Samples were obtained by puncturing the calf rumen. Results: The weight gain (kg) during the whole experimental period was higher in the Pre12 (65.8±6.57) compared to CoG (36.8±7.98) calves (p0.001). The daily weight gain was also increased in the Pre12 (1.2±0.12) than CoG (0.7±0.14) calves (p0.001). There was no difference in the levels of CHsub4/sub and COsub2/sub produced in the rumen of CoG and Pre12 calves (p0.05). Conclusion: The main results showed that the prebiotic inulin can promote weight gain in calves, without affecting the mean concentration of CHsub4/sub and COsub2/sub in calves' rumen.