IN VITRO DIGESTIBILITY OF FEED WITH ADDITIVES OF CHITIN AND CHITOSAN EXTRACTED FROM SNAIL

ABSTRACT

This research was carried out to determine the yield of chitin and chitosan extracts from snail and periwinkle shells using cocoa pod potash, and the effect of the extracts on in vitro methane gas production and fermentation parameters. Different levels of inclusion were used to investigate the invitro digestibility of feed with chitin and chitosan. The fermentation characteristic of substrates containing their extracts at different inclusion level was studied. The inoculum used was prepared with rumen liquor collected from goats in the early hours of the morning into a prewarmed flask and buffer at ratio 1:2, The in vitro incubation was carried out using 120 mL calibrated syringes containing 30 mL of the inoculums at 39ºC and methane was determined using 40 % NaOH solution. Among the post in vitro parameters: methane (CH4), metabolisable energy (ME), methane reduction (CH4red), short chain fatty acids (SCFA), and organic matter digestibility (OMD) no significant effect (P > 0.05) of the chitin and chitosan was observed except in the CH4 reduction variable. The level of inclusion of both 3% and 6% of the extracts had significant effect on percentage methane reduction and was greatest at 3%% level of inclusion of snail chitosan. In conclusion, Chitin and chitosan at 3% and 6% have shown the potential to enhance feed digestibility invitro, facilitating improved absorption of vital nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats by animals. This, in turn, can result in enhanced growth rates and overall animal health. The desired characteristic of chitin and chitosan extract is mostly the reduction of CH4 production. But this should not be at the detriment of desired fermentation parameters These extracts were able to reduces CH4 as observed in some of the levels of inclusion especially in 3 % inclusion level.