Effect of Zeolite and Acorn Added to Alfalfa Hay and Dairy Cattle Ration on In Vitro Organic Matter Digestibility and Methane Production

This study was conducted to determine the effects of acorn and acorn+zeolite mixture added to dairy cattle ration and alfalfa hay on in-vitro methane production, in-vitro organic matter digestion, metabolic energy value, rumen ammonia nitrogen and nutrient composition. Sixteen groups were formed by adding 0% (control), 2.5%, 5%, 10% acorn in combination with 2.5% zeolite to alfalfa hay and dairy cattle ration. Feed samples added with different levels of acorn and acorn-zeolite mixture were a incubated in glass tubes for 24 hours using in-vitro gas production technique. After 24 hours, methane and carbon dioxide gas levels were determined by a methane measuring device. The lowest methane production for dairy cattle ration and alfalfa hay were observed in the group added with 10% acorn (P<0.05). Along with the levels of acorn, ammonia nitrogen values were decreased, while in-vitro organic matter digestion and metabolic energy values increased (P<0.001) fordairy cattle ration and alfalfa hay. Consequently, it was concluded that, acorn might increase the by-pass proteins, in-vitro organic matter digestion and metabolic energy value by decreasing the degradation of feed protein in rumen, and decrease methane production if it is added in a high level. Besides, effects of acorn and zeolite on animal performance should be investigated by in-vivostudies