In vitro evaluation and methane production potential of rice gluten meal based concentrate feeds in buffalo inoculum

There is shortage of conventional feedstuffs to feed livestock in the country. Thus, this study was intended to evaluate the chemical composition and in vitro nutrient utilization of concentrate feeds containing graded levels of rice gluten meal (RGM).

Five concentrate feeds containing graded levels of RGM at 0, 6.25, 12.50, 18.75 and 25% replacing soybean meal @ 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% on w/w basis were prepared and designated as conc-1, conc-2, conc-3,conc-4 and conc-5. In vitro evaluation of feeds was carried out by in vitro gas production technique. Data were analysed by one way ANOVA using SPSS (2012) version 21.

The total ash, acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) content decreased while organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), hemicellulose, acid detergent insoluble crude protein (ADICP), neutral detergent insoluble crude protein (NDICP) and total carbohydrate (TCHO) content increased with increase in the inclusion of RGM in the concentrate feeds. The OM digestibility was lower (P<0.05) in concentrate feeds 3, 4 and 5 than concentrate feed 1 and 2. Microbial mass production (MMP), efficiency of MMP and ME availability were not affected by including RGM in feeds. NH₃- N showed a declining trend with increasing level of RGM in concentrate feeds. The relative proportion of acetate decreased (P<0.05) while that of propionate increased (P<0.05) with increasing level of RGM in the concentrate feeds. Methane production varied non-significantly among the concentrate feeds. The fermentation efficiency was higher (P<0.05) in concentrate 4 and 5 than other concentrates.