Effect of Different Proportions of Berseem and Wheat Straw on In Vitro Dry Matter Digestibility and Total Gas Production

Four test substrates containing different proportions of berseem: wheat straw (0:100, 15:85, 30:70, and 45:55 in groups 1-IV) were evaluated for in vitro drymatter digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), in vitro total gas production (IVGP) and proportion of methane in total gas produced. IVDMD percent was 36.9, 43.2, 49.7 and 50.9; IVOMD percent was 38.4, 44.9, 51.6 and 52.3, IVGP (ml/0.5g substrate) was 40.8, 49.4, 52.6 and 52.6 and proportion of methane in total gas (percent) was 51.0, 47.0, 44.1 and 41.8 in groups Ito IV, respectively, which increased (p<0.01) with increased level of berseem upto 30 percent beyond which no further improvement was observed. Proportion of methane in total gas produced decreased (P<0.05) with increased proportion of berseem. It is concluded that increased proportion of berseem (upto 30%) in the substrate increases in vitro fermentation of wheat straw based substrate.