In vitro nutritional evaluation and methane production of deoiledajwain meal as a potential ruminant feed ingredient

The present study was undertaken to evaluate deoiled ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) meal (DOAM) for its in vitro nutritional evaluation and methane mitigation potential. For this purpose, a concentrate mixture based on maize and soybean meal as a major feed ingredient was formulated and designated as control ‘C’. The concentrate mixture was reformulated using 5, 10, 15 and 20 parts (kg/100kg) of DOAM for experimental groups i.e. T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively and made iso-nitrogenous by addition of urea. The values of DM, CP, EE, CF, TA, NFE, NDICP and ADICP (%) in DOAM were 88.41, 14.57, 2.65, 16.35, 12.75, 53.68, 51.86 and 17.35, respectively. Dry matter degradability and digestibility of T1 and T2 were comparable with those of control whereas significant (P is less than0.05) depression was observed when 15% (T3) and 20 percent(T4) of DOAM was incorporated. Addition of 10 percent DOAM in the concentrate mixture caused significant (P is less than 0.05) decrease of methane production from 46.65 mg/g DM (control) to 39.70 ml/gm DM. It can be concluded from the present study that addition of 10 percent deoiled ajwain meal (DOAM) in the concentrate in concentrate mixture resulted in lower methane production and has no adverse effect on DM, OM and CP digestibility.