Effect of Sarsaponin on Ruminal Fermentation with Particular Reference to Methane Production in Vitro

• Published in: Journal of dairy science 2003-10, Vol.86 (10), p.3330-3336
• Main Authors: Lila, Z.A., Mohammed, N., Kanda, S., Kamada, T., Itabashi, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic Acid - analysis; Ammonia - analysis; ammonium nitrogen; animal physiology; Animal productions; Animals; Bacteria - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Butyric Acid - analysis; Cattle - metabolism; digestive physiology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - pharmacology; Fatty Acids, Volatile - metabolism; feed additives; Female; Fermentation; Fermentation - drug effects; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; in vitro digestion; In Vitro Techniques; methane; Methane - metabolism; methane production; methanogens; Nitrogen - analysis; Poaceae - metabolism; Propionates - analysis; Rumen - drug effects; Rumen - metabolism; Rumen - microbiology; rumen bacteria; rumen fermentation; rumen fluid; rumen protozoa; saponin; Solanum tuberosum - chemistry; Spirostans - pharmacology; Starch - metabolism; steroid saponins; Terrestrial animal productions; Vertebrates; volatile fatty acids; Yucca schidigera
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(03)73935-6

This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of different concentrations (0, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4, and 3.2g/L) of sarsaponin on ruminal microbial methane production using the substrates soluble potato starch, cornstarch, or hay plus concentrate (1.5:1). Ruminal fluid was collected from a dairy cow, mixed with phosphate buffer (1:2) and incubated (30ml) anaerobically at 38°C for 6 and 24h with or without sarsaponin. Excluding the lower level of sarsaponin, pH of the medium was slightly decreased. Ammonia-N concentration and numbers of protozoa were decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Total volatile fatty acids and total gas production were increased. Molar proportion of acetate was decreased and propionate was increased with a corresponding decrease in acetate:propionate ratio. Hydrogen production was decreased. As the concentration of sarsaponin increased from 1.2 to 3.2g/L, fermentation of soluble potato starch, cornstarch, or hay plus concentrate decreased methane production from 20 to 60% (6h) and 17 to 50% (24h), 21 to 58% (6h) and 18 to 52% (24h), and 23 to 53% (6h) and 15 to 44% (24h), respectively. Excluding the lower dose concentration (1.2g/L) of sarsaponin, in vitro disappearance of dry matter of hay plus concentrate was decreased after 24h. In conclusion, these results show that sarsaponin stimulated the mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation as well as to inhibit methane production in vitro.