Effects of Suaeda glauca crushed seed on rumen microbial populations, ruminal fermentation, methane emission, and growth performance in Ujumqin lambs

• Published in: Animal feed science and technology 2015-12, Vol.210, p.104-113
• Main Authors: Liu, H.W., Xiong, B.H., Li, K., Zhou, D.W., Lv, M.B., Zhao, J.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Lamb; Methane; Rumen ecology; Suaeda glauca
• ISSN: 0377-8401; 1873-2216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2015.10.007

•Addition of Suaeda glauca seed increased growth rate of lambs.•Addition of Suaeda glauca seed reduced methane emission from lambs.•Addition of Suaeda glauca seed reduced methanogenic bacterial populations in lambs. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Suaeda glauca crushed seed on rumen microbial populations, ruminal fermentation, methane emission, and growth performance in lambs. Thirty male Ujumqin lambs (a local breed, average body weight 25.5±1.28kg) were equally divided into three treatments for a 56 d feeding period. The treatments were control diet (CTR), 80g of SG seed/kg of diet (SGS80, dry matter (DM) basis), and 160g of SG seed/kg of diet (SGS160, DM basis). Ruminal samples were collected at 0, 3, 6 and 9h after the morning feeding on d 28 and 56 to investigate treatment, sampling day, sampling hour, and their interactions effects on ruminal parameters and microorganism population. After the feeding trial, all lambs were moved to respiratory chambers to measure methane emission. Addition of SG seed decreased methanogen (P