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ABSTRACT
Recently the utilization of biological feed additives over chemical feed additives in animal feeds have increased. This study was carried out to determine the in vitro fermentation characteristics of Guinea grass and concentrate supplements with or without lemon grass powder as additive. Three experimental diets were used. T1 (40% concentrate + 60% Guinea grass), T2 (35% concentrate + 60% Guinea grass + 5% lemon grass powder) T3 (30% concentrate + 60% Guinea grass + 10% lemon grass powder). The chemical composition and cell wall components (NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose) of the experimental diets was determined. The samples were evaluated in an invitro study which was carried out in the University of Benin Animal science research laboratory. At the completion of the 24 hours incubation period, total gas volume, dry matter digestibility (DMD), fermentation efficiency (FE) and CH4 were determined. While organic matter digestibility (OMD), short chain fatty acid (SCFA) and metabolizable energy (ME) were estimated from established equation. The CP ranged from 7.41 - 14.12%. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) among the three Treatments. NDF was within the range of 34.50 – 75.00%. Significant difference (P>0.05) was recorded among the T1, T2 and T3. The EE was higher in T1 than in T2 and T3. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) between T1 and T3. Hemicellulose ranged from 7.91 – 17.81% with a significant difference among T1 and T2 and T3. The range for GV, DMD, CH4%, FE, OMD, SCFA, ME were 0.50 -0.63%, 47.73 – 71.00%, 10.66 – 14.00% 2.10 -3.90%, 43.7 – 46.5%, 0.40 – 0.48%, and 5.72 -6.18% respectively for the Treatments. T3 reduced CH4% without adversely affecting the desired fermentation parameters indicating that the plant has methane reducing potential.
