EFFECTS OF GINGER POWDER ON THE In Vitro GAS PRODUCTION OF BRACHIARIA SPECIES

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study evaluated effects of ginger powder at graded levels on the in vitro and methane gas production of Brachiariadecumbens and Brachiariaruziziensis. The experiment was laid out as a 2 x 3 factorial design with two Brachiariaspp (B. ruziziensis and B. decumbens) harvested from 15cm above ground level and three levels of inclusions of ginger powder (0, 10 and 15 mg/g) and replicated three times. Data collection was subjected to two-ways analysis of variance and the treatment means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range test using SAS (1999) package. Results showed that there were no significant (p>0.05) differences in the gas volumes (6, 12, and 24 hours of in vitro incubation) when the Brachariagrasses were compared. Under the interaction, there were significant (p<0.05) differences in the final gas volumes due to the effect of the ginger powder inclusion levels. The gas volumes significantly (p<0.05) increased at 5.0mg/g of ginger powder inclusion when compared with the control; however, no further increase in gas volume was recorded at the highest inclusion level of ginger powder. The organic matter digestibility, short chain fatty acids, and metabolizable energy significantly (p<0.05) increased at 5.0mg/g of ginger powder inclusion while lower values were recorded at 10mg/g inclusion of the ginger. In conclusion, ginger powder can be included into ruminant diets at a level of 5.0 mg/g to enhance gas production and reduce CH4 emissions in grasses.