Comparison of chemical composition and anti-methanogenic potential of Liquidambar orientalis leaves with Laurus nobilis and Eucalyptus globulus leaves using in vitro gas production technique

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare the leaves of Liquidambar orientalis with leaves of Laurus nobilis and Eucalyptus globulus in terms of chemical composition and anti-methanogenic potentials using the in vitro gas production technique. Species had a significant effect on the chemical composition, gas production, methane production, metabolisable energy and organic matter digestibility of tree leaves. Crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and condensed tannin (CT) contents of tree leaves ranged from 9.11 to 12.8, 22.49 to 35.85 and 32.76 to 49.31, 1.55 to 9.29% respectively. Gas production, methane production, metabolisable energy (ME) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) ranged from 21.72 to 31.54 ml, 2.62 ml to 4.41 ml, 6.62 to 9.24 MJ /kg DM, 41.23 to 54.84 % respectively. It is likely that leaves of Liquidambar orientalis will be more effective for methane mitigation in ruminant animals as compared with Eucalyptus globules and Laurus nobilis. However before large implication it should be tested in vivo to evaluate the effect of leaves of Liquidambar orientalis on animal production