Effect of fenugreek seed extracts on in-vitro digestibility of feed

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of water and methanol extracts of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds (FS) on rumen fermentation pattern and methane production in ruminants. Wheat straw and concentrate mixture in the ratio of 60:40 was used as substrate. In-vitro digestibility of DM, OM and NDF was depressed significantly on supplementation of water extract, however, TVFA concentration, bacterial biomass, total gas as well as methane production were not affected. Supplementation of methanol extract also depressed (P<0.01) the in-vitro digestability of above nutrients and TVFA production but bacterial biomass increased (P<0.01). The total gas and methane production were not affected at any level of supplementation. Water as well as methanol extracts depressed the digestibility of nutrients at these levels of supplementation.