Effect of forage nutrient on sheep gas emission in different multi-species cropping system
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24425/jwld.2025.155301Abstract
The in site ration system (IRS) is an innovative forage production strategy designed to optimise livestock nutrition by integrating multiple forage species with complementary agronomic and nutritional characteristics. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of a balanced forage ration using IRS on sheep nutritional quality, digestibility, fermentability, and gas emission. The research was conducted at the Jonggol Animal Science, Teaching, and Research Unit, IPB University, where Urochloa hybrid cv. ‘Mulato II’ (U. ruziziensis × U. decumbens × U. brizantha), Pennisetum purpureum cv. ‘Thailand’, P. purpureum cv. ‘Mott’, and Indigofera zollingeriana were cultivated. The research evaluated the impact of varying levels of I. zollingeriana supplementation (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%) on in vitro digestibility, ruminal fermentation parameters, gas production, and methane production. Results demonstrated that increasing I. zollingeriana supplementation significantly improved in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), with the highest values recorded in the 20% I. zollingeriana ration (70.4 and 69.4%, respectively). Additionally, total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations increased proportionally with I. zollingeriana levels, although led to increased gas and methane production, with the 20% I. zollingeriana ration showing the highest methane output at 2.35 cm3. These findings highlight the potential of IRS to enhance forage quality and nutrient utilisation through several grasses and legume species cultivation in a location that increased ruminal digestibility and fermentation efficiency. Further research is needed to mitigate the potential forage that minimises gas and methane production.References
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