Integrating palm fatty acid distillate and mangrove fruit tannins in complete feed wafers: Effects on physical quality of wafers, rumen fermentation, and methane mitigation in vitro

Abstract

In ruminant production systems, inefficient rumen fermentation may contribute to enteric methane production and suboptimal nitrogen utilization, potentially reducing the efficiency of dietary energy and protein use. The combination of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) and tannin-containing feed ingredients may influence rumen fermentation; however, the magnitude of the response depends on the ingredient source, inclusion level, and fermentation conditions. The present in vitro study investigated how the inclusion of PFAD in mangrove fruit-based tannin wafer rations influences rumen fermentation profiles and nutrient utilization. This study consisted of two stages. Stage 1 evaluated the physical characteristics of the complete-feed wafers prior to in vitro fermentation. Stage 2 conducted an in vitro evaluation of feed wafers, assessing rumen fermentation parameters (pH, NH₃, partial VFA profile), nutrient digestibility (digestibility of nutrient and fiber fractions), microbial activity (protozoan population, microbial biomass, and protein synthesis), and methane gas production. A randomized block design with four treatments was applied: T1 (wafer ration + 4% mangrove fruit), T2 (T1 + 1% PFAD), T3 (T1 + 2% PFAD), and T4 (T1 + 3% PFAD). The result showed that increasing PFAD levels had significant effects (P < 0.05) on improving nutrient and fiber digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, and partial VFA production, while reducing NH₃ concentration, methane production, and protozoa population. Compared with T1, T4 reduced methane production by 32.64% and NH₃ concentration by 21.70%, while increasing microbial protein synthesis by 7.29%. Dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein digestibility increased by 8.91%, 11.20%, and 15.36%, respectively. Overall, 3% PFAD in wafer rations containing 4% mangrove fruit was associated with the most favorable responses among the evaluated treatments, including higher nutrient digestibility and microbial protein synthesis and lower methane production.

Keywords

digestibility / physical quality / wafer / biohydrogenation / protozoa

References

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