In Vitro Evaluation of Bitterleaf and Moringa Leaves as Anti-Methanogenic Plants and Their Nutritive Potentials in Ruminants’ Nutrition

Abstract

An in vitro study was conducted to investigate the effects of graded inclusion levels of Vernonia amygdalina and Moringa oleifera leaf meals in ruminants’ diet on nutritive composition, extent and rate of gas and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Fresh V. amygdalina and M. oleifera leaves were harvested, air-dried, milled to make respective leaf meals, designated as VALM and MOLM. The leaf meals were added to formulated concentrate diet (FCD) at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20%, respectively, and were analyzed for nutrient (proximate, fibre fraction, macro-minerals and phytochemicals) compositions. The suitability/feeding value of these test diets were evaluated using in vitro gas production techniques. During the incubation, the gas production was measured at regular intervals from 0 to 24 hrs. The treatments were assigned to completely randomize design (n=3) and all data generated were subjected statistical analysis. The leaf meals significantly improved the nutritive quality and mineral concentration of the feed. The in vitro characteristics results suggest that the high inclusion of VALM and MOLM enhanced the extent and rate of fermentation, while decreasing the methane production. 20% VALM inclusion level with the FCD had the least methane gas production (3.10 ml), thus, suggestive of the potentials of VALM as anti-methanogenic plants. Hence, the plants could be incorporated in ruminant feed up to 20% inclusion level for optimum feed utilization and methane emission reduction. However, in vivo study is hereby recommended for validation of these in vitro results.