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Effect of the level of corn incorporation on the degradability of a concentrate in vitro

Abstract:

Ruminants are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions because of their fermentative digestive system produces certain end products such as methane. Livestock plays a crucial role in Spain, It therefore seems necessary to develop strategies to reduce these emissions. One of them is the use of vitreous starches in ruminants feed, as their low degradability in the rumen leads to a decrease in methane production. The study aimed to evaluate the effects on ruminal fermentation of different levels of inclusion of corn starch in a barley/corn mixture system, as well as a commercial calf feedstuff based on in vitro analysis of gas and methane production. The barley/corn mixtures were fermented for 18h, while the feedstuffs were fermented for 18 and 96h. For the barley/corn mixtures, the lowest gas production level was observed in the 100% corn (207,97ml/g), increasing methane production by 0,11ml methane/g for each percentage point of barley added. In the feedstuff, after 18h fermentation, the lower gas and methane production was associated to the control and the higher maize concentrate respectively. After 96h of fermentation, the highest gas and methane production level corresponded to the highest starch level. Both cereals show different fermentative and methanogenic profiles in vitro, limiting gas and methane production when corn is included in calf concentrate.