ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of Different Levels of Eucalyptus Oil
on Methane Production under in vitro Conditions
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1
College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun City, China
2
Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt
Submission date: 2018-01-20
Final revision date: 2018-02-25
Acceptance date: 2018-03-01
Online publication date: 2018-11-21
Publication date: 2019-01-28
Corresponding author
Mohammed Hamdy Farouk
College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agriculture University, Changchun City, China, Jilin Province, 11338 Changchun, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(3):1031-1042
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ABSTRACT
Livestock animals are seriously contributing to global warming as methane producers. Six levels
(0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 ml.kg-1 DM) of eucalyptus oil (EuO) were investigated under in vitro conditions to
study the mitigation ability for methane production, using two rations: R1 (70% forage: 30% concentrates)
and R2 (60% forage: 40% concentrates). Two cannulated sheep were used as donor animals to obtain
the rumen liquid. The results showed that CH4 production levels were significantly (P≤0.05) lower in
all treated groups with EuO than the control group (0 ml.kg-1 DM) in both rations. The retreating for
CH4 of R1 was 32%, adding of 2 mL.kg-1 DM, and was 38% in10 ml.kg-1 DM. Regarding R2, the decrease
ratio of methane production was 42% in 2.0 mL addition, whereas it was 46% in 10 mL of addition rate.
In R2, protozoa count was significantly (P≤0.05) lower by adding the eucalyptus oil compared with
the control. In conclusion, using EuO and a high-protein diet could decrease both total gas volume and
methane production even with minimal oil levels (2.0 mL EuO.kg-1DM). It is recommended to carry out
an in vivo experiment to emphasize the effects of EuO on the ruminant.