Rumen Fermentation Characteristics and Methane Production in Sheep Fed a Total Mixed Ration Containing Coffee Residue

Abstract

The objectives of this experiment were to determine the effect of coffee residue (CR) as a replacement of kleingrass hay in total mixed ration (TMR) on rumen fer-mentation characteristics and methane production in sheep. Four wethers with ini-tial body weight (46 ± 7.2 kg) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The wethers were allotted to one of four TMR at 55 g dry matter (DM)/kg body weight -0.75/day. Four TMR used in this experiment were (CTL) Kleingrass hay + wheat + oat (50 : 25 : 25, on DM basis ) as control; (LCR) : Kleingrass hay + wheat + oat + CR treated Bio-PKC (45 : 25 : 25 : 5, on DM basis); (MCR) Kleingrass hay + wheat + oat + CR treated with Bio-PKC (40 : 25 : 25 : 10, on DM basis); (HCR) Kleingrass hay + wheat + oat + CR treated with Bio-PKC (30 : 25 : 25 : 20, on DM basis ). Bio-PKC was applied at level of 2% (w/w). The result showed that rumen pH value was maintained from 6.05 to 6.25. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in rumen pH value by inclusion of coffee residue into TMR. The NH3-N concentration and protozoa number were similar (P>0.05) among treatments. There was no dif-ference in methane production among treatments when expressed as l/kg DMI and l/day/BW-0.75. The study suggests that forage can be replaced by coffee residue treated with BIO-PKC up to 20% of the diet DM in ruminant feed.