Study of in vitro gas production, rumen fermentation, and rumen degradation characteristics of Moringa Oleifera seed in dairy cows

This study involved three dry non-lactating Chinese Holstein cows with a permanent rumen fistula as experimental animals. The ruminal degradation rates of Moringa oleifera seed kernel (MOSK) and M. oleifera seed shell (MOSS) were determined using the nylon bag technique at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h. The time period and the intestinal digestibility of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) were also measured. Due to the low ruminal degradation rate of MOSS, MOSK/total mixed ration (TMR) was used as a substrate for in vitro fermentation. The fermentation parameters, gas production, and methane (CH₄) production were determined for the following six treatment groups: 0 ꞉ 100 (A), 20 ꞉ 80 (B), 40 ꞉ 60 (C), 60 ꞉ 40 (D), 80 ꞉ 20 (E), and 100 ꞉ 0 (F). The results showed that the rumen degradation rates and rumen degradation parameters of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were significantly higher in the MOSK group than the MOSS group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in intestinal digestibility between the MOSK and MOSS groups ( P > 0.05). In vitro fermentation results showed that the pH value and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), butyrate, and isobutyrate contents increased significantly with an increase in the percentage of MOSK addition (P < 0.05). However, no significant effects on microbial protein or total volatile fatty acid content were observed ( P > 0.05). The results for both gas and CH ₄ production showed a decreasing trend with the addition of MOSK. In conclusion, MOSK showed better nutrient rumen degradation than MOSS, and increased MOSK addition significantly inhibited rumen fermentation and methane production.