Effect of four inclusion levels of Morus alba L. cv. cubana on microbial populations and fermentative products in river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) rumen liquid

Abstract

To know by means of in vitro fermentation the effect of mulberry inclusion (M. alba Linn. cv. cubana) on the microbial populations and fermentative products in river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) rumen liquid, four inclusion levels of M. alba Linn. cv. cubana (0, 15, 30, and 45 %) in a star grass(Cynodon nlemfuensis) basic diet were evaluated. The treatments chemical composition, gas volume and accumulated methane were determined at 4, 8, 12 and 24 h of fermentation. The sowing and count of total viable bacteria, cellulolytics, proteolytics, methanogenics and cellulolytic fungi were carried out at 0, 4 and 8 h. The protozoa count, the pH and ammonia concentration (NH3) was made at 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h of incubation. A completely randomized design with factorial arrangement was applied. The treatments and the fermentation hours were the factors and four repetitions were made in time. From eight and up to 24h, all the treatments with M. alba had gas productions higher than the control (P < 0.0001), although the 30 and 45 % inclusion promoted similar amounts to each other (52.92 and 54.13 mL/g DM, respectively).The ruminal methane production was higher, when including 15 and 45 % de M. alba L. cv. cubana (P < 0.05), while the incorporation of 30% originated a volume that did not differ from control treatment. The populations of bacteria, fungi and protozoa, the pH, and the ammonia concentration were not affected with the M. alba inclusion. The obtained results allow to conclude that 15, 30 and 45 % of Morus alba cv. cubana inclusion do not exerts effect on the rumen microbial populations , pH and ammonia concentration, but when this plant is included in 15 and 45 % it increase the ruminal methane production.

Key words: fermentation, methane, microorganisms, mulberry, rumen