Essential oils as ruminal fermentation modifiers to replace monensin sodium in vitro

Abstract

The objective of this study to evaluate the effect of secondary plant compounds present in essential oils in replacement of monensin on in vitro ruminal fermentation parameters. It was adopted a completely randomized design with nine treatments and four replicates. The treatments were: control (CON), monensin (MON), garlic oil (ALH), cinnamon oil (CAN), clove oil (CRA), mint oil (HOR), juniper oil (JUN), bitter orange oil (LAR), and melaleuca oil (MEL). The in vitro gas technique was used to record total gas production at 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after incubation. MON, CAN and CRA increased gas production Only the garlic and cinnamon treatments reduced the digestibility of organic matter in 20 and 26% in relation to the control treatment. Methane production reduced (P <0.001) in 54, 76, 90, 72, 32, 60, 44 and 47% for MON, ALH, CAN, CRA, HOR, JUN, LAR and MEL, respectively. The N-NH3 concentration was dramatically reduced (P <0.001) with all additives. The essential oils tested in the experiment at the dosage of 1 Ml / l of solution are efficient in the reduction of methane and ammonia.