Abstract
Sixteen feed ingredients comprising of cereals, pulses and oilseed cakes were evaluated for nutritional composition and in vitro fermentation characteristics with sheep rumen inoculum. Crude protein (CP), crude fiber (NDF and ADF), cellulose, lignin, protein fractions (PA, PB1, PB2, PB3 and PC) and carbohydrate fractions (CA, CB1, CB2 and CC) of examined feed ingredients varied (P<0.0001). The total digestible nutrients (TDN), digestible energy (DE) and metabolisable energy (ME) contents were lower (P<0.05) in Chickpea chunnie-CC, rice chunnie-RC and cotton seed cake-CSC and higher (P<0.0001) in maize grain-MG, pearlmillet grain- PMG, barley grain-BG and wheat grain-WG. The NE values for lactation (NEL), maintenance (NEM) and growth (NEG) differ (P<0.0001) and were higher for cereal grains (BG and MG) and lower for byproducts (CC and RC). The total digestible non fibrous carbohydrates (tdNFC) values were lower (P<0.0001) for soybean meal-SBM and coconut cake-CNC and higher for oat grain-OG, MG, BG and WG. In vitro gas production was highest (P<0.05) from CG (265.14) and lowest from RC (71.57 ml/g DM), while the CH4 production was lowest from WG and SBM (18.19 and 18.25 ml/g DDM) and highest from cowpea grain-CG (59.65 ml/g DDM). Proportion of CH4 in gas was lower (P<0.0001) for WB, SBM and mustard seed cake-MSC feed ingredients. Loss of energy as CH4 was lower (P<0.0001) from WB, SBM, MSC and RC (3.05, 2.65, 3.52 and 2.39%) and highest for CG (9.55%). Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and microbial mass (MBM) were lower for RC (1.58 mM/g DM and 137.6 mg/g DM) and higher for MG (5.82 mM/g DM) and CNC (534.0 mg/g DM). The DMD was lowest for RC (29.51%) and highest for GG (93.98%). Methane production (ml/g DDM) and CH4% GE was lower for MSC, CNC, WG and SBM which may be used to formulate low methane emission diets for ruminants.