METHANE PRODUCTION AND NUTRIENT UTILIZATION AT LOW LEVELS OF OIL IN DIETS OF STEERS

摘要

Based on average body weight, twelve cross-bred steers of 2-2.5 years were divided into 3 groups of 4animals each. The animals were fed wheat straw and concentrate mixture in the ratio of 60:40. Concentratemixture was prepared with deoiled groundnut cake, maize and wheat bran ( T1). Groundnut oil was addedin concentrate mixture (T1) to get the EE content of total diet to 2% (T2) and 3% (T3), respectively. DM intakekg/day, kg/100kg body weight and nutrient digestibility did not differ significantly ( P>0.05) in the threegroups. Though energy content in group 111 was higher due to low DM intake, the energy intake was notdifferent as compared to group I. Nitrogen-balance and N-retention also did not differ among the threegroups. However, there was significant decrease (p<0.05) in methane production (g/day) in group II (60.74)and III (63.82) as compared to group I (85.58). When the methane loss (g/day) was expressed as per kgof nutrient intake as well as percent of energy intake, there was also a significant decrease (p<0.05) ingroups II and III. The results indicated that there was reduction in methane production without affectingdigestibility in groups II and III at 2 and 3 % fat in total diet.