In Vitro Nutrient Digestibility and Methane Production Potential of Concentrate Mixtures containing Graded Levels of Phalaris minor Seeds

The main objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of incorporation of graded levels of Phalaris minor seeds (a weed in wheat fields) in the concentrate mixture on nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation pattern. Maize grain based conventional concentrate mixture was prepared and maize grains in the concentrate mixture were replaced by P. minor seeds at graded levels of 25, 50, 75 and 100%. The nutritional worth of various concentrate mixtures formulated was assessed by in vitro gas production technique. It was observed that net gas production and methane production was depressed (P<0.05), when maize grains in the concentrate mixture were completely replaced by P. minor seeds. Similar trend was observed in the in vitro digestibility of nutrients. However, there was no adverse effect of replacing maize grains with P. minor seeds up to 75% in the concentrate mixture on in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility. Hence, it was concluded that P. minor seeds could be considered as promising energy supplement for livestock and can replace conventional cereal grains viz., maize upto 75 % in the concentrate mixture without any adverse effect on nutrient digestibility.