Effect of Leucaena leucocephala substitution on in vitro rumen fermentation and methane emission in thin tailed-sheep

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of substitution of Leucaena leucocephala (LL) leaves on in vitro rumen fermentation and methane emission in thin tailed-sheep. Rumen fluid were collected form two thin tailed-sheep fed with mixed-forages. The basal diet used in in vitro study consisted of 30 of concentrate and 70 of forages. LL leaves substituted the forages of basal diet by 10 or 25 . Methane production, carbon dioxide (CO2), ammonia concentration, microbial protein, protozoa, volatile fatty acids (VFA) were obtained according to in vitro gas production methods followed by microbial diversity evaluation. Substitution of LL leaves reduced (P<0.05) the pH, ammonia and microbial protein regardless percentage of substitution. Protozoa counts lowered as the LL leaves increased (P<0.05). However, there were no significant effects of LL leaves substitution on VFA production, CO₂ and methane emission. It can be concluded that substitution of LL leaves to forages up to 25 was not enough to reduce methane emission although some ruminal fermentation parameters were affected. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.