In vitro Ruminal Acid Load and Methane Emission Responses to Supplemented Lactating Dairy Cow Diets with Inorganic Compounds Varying in Buffering Capacities

Using 24 hours in vitro cultures of rumen microorganisms, this study investigates the effect of buffering capacity of 2 inorganic compounds (M1=119.43 and M2=116.50 meq/L) on the in vitro rumen acidogenic value (AV), medium pH, dry matter disappearance (INVDMD) and methane emission of lactating dairy cow diets containing various forage to concentrate ratios as 40:60 (FC40:60) and 30:70 (FC30:70) in a completely randomized design. Inorganic compounds were included in the experimental diets at the rate of 0.0, 10 or 20 g/kg DM. Diet with higher amount of concentrate caused a decline in medium pH, an increase in both AV and IVDMD. The acidogenic value of FC40:60 containing M2 at 20, M1 at 10 and 20 g/kg DM and FC 30:70 plus M1 and M2 at 20 g/kg DM was the lowest. The lowest level of CH4 emission (mL/0.20 g DM) was observed in FC30:70 plus M1 at the rate of 10 g/kg DM, while the highest level belongs to FC40:60 plus M1 at 10 g/kg DM and FC30:70 containing M1 at 20 and M2 at 10 g/kg DM. It has been concluded that the higher buffering capacity of a lactating diet might reduce the rumen acid load and increased IVDMD, while a diet with higher amount of concentrate causes to decline rumen methane emission.