Leucaena Leucocephala And Opuntia Ficus-Indica Reduce The Ruminal Methane Production In Vitro

This study aimed to evaluate the inclusion of Leucaena leucocephala (LL) and Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) fresh and fermented as alfalfa hay substitute in the forage fraction on the ruminal fermentative parameters, gas production kinetics and methane production in vitro. Four treatments were formulated as beef cattle diets (T1: 50% HA; T2: 30% LL y 20% HA; T3: 30% OFI y 20% HA; T4: 30% OFI fermentado y 20% HA). Total phenolics compounds and condensed tannins (CT) increased over 400% when LL was included (P<0.05). Additionally, CT increased 45% when fermented OFI was included in the ration in T4 (P<0.05). Ammonia-nitrogen, volatile fatty acids, gas production and acetate:propionate ratio were different among treatments. The maximum gas production was observed when LL was included in T2 (P<0.05). However, no changes were observed among T1, T2 and T3 (P>0.05). In addition, lag phase decreased in T2 (P<0.05). Furthermore, methane production was different among treatments (P<0.05); reductions of 26 and 14% were observed when including LL and OFI, respectively. Thus, according to the obtained results, LL and OFI are ingredients, which may be included in the bovine diets and thereby contribute to the greenhouse gases mitigation.