EFFECT OF CINNAMON (Cinamonum cassia) POWDER ON IN VITRO METHANE PRODUCTION AND FERMENTATION OF MAIZE STOVER-BASED SUBSTRATE

Abstract

Methane (CH4) production and fermentation of a maize stover-based substrate in response to inclusions of cinnamon powder (CNP) were evaluated using the in vitro gas technique. Substrate (200 mg) consisting of maize stover and concentrate in ratio 6: 4 was incorporated with CNP at levels of 0, 15 and 30 mg/g dry matter (DM) to make three different treatments. These were incubated in vitro in 100 ml glass syringes at 39℃ for 48 h with total gas and CH4 production measured. Dry matter degradability (DMD), partitioning factor, microbial biomass and volatile fatty acids were also determined. Results showed that CNP reduced (P < 0.05) total gas volume, CH4 production and DMD s with the least reduction at 30 mg/g DM inclusion. The partitioning factor increased (P < 0.05) with inclusion of CNP at both levels of inclusion. It was concluded that, inclusion of cinnamon powder at 15 and 30 mg/g DM has potentials to reduce CH4 production in maize-stover based diet. The higher fermentation efficiency implied that cinnamon powder reduced the amount of gas produced per gram of substrate degraded which implied better rumen fermentation efficiency.