Effect of replacing corn grains with date palm kernels on ruminal fermentation, feed degradability, and methane production under different initial pH conditions.

Date kernels (DK) are cheap by-products rich in energy and phenolic compounds. It can be used as an alternative to the conventional sources of energy in ruminant diets while reducing methane (CH) production. Using a semi-automated gas production (GP) system, the initial pH of buffered rumen liquor was adjusted to 5.

Effect of some essential oils on in vitro methane emission.

The objectives of this study were to characterise four essential oils (EO) chemically and to evaluate their effect on ruminal fermentation and methane emission in vitro. The investigated EO were isolated from Achillea santolina, Artemisia judaica, Schinus terebinthifolius and Mentha microphylla, and supplemented at four levels (0, 25, 50 and 75 microl) to 75 ml of buffered rumen fluid plus 0.5 g of substrate.