The study was
taken up to assess the effect of the pure essential oils (EOs) viz.
cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol, carvone and limonene supplemented individually at 1
to 5% levels of the substrate DM (wheat straw) on the in vitro methane
production and fiber degradation in a 4 × 7 factorial design.
Supplementation
of cinnamaldehyde and carvon, irrespective of their level had significantly (P
< 0.01) higher net gas production (NGP), digestibility of neutral
detergent fiber (NDFD) and true organic matter (TOMD), metabolizable energy
(ME) availability and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production from the
substrate.
The methane
production was lowest (P < 0.01) in carvacrol followed by limonene and
highest (P < 0.01) in carvone supplemented groups. Irrespective of the type
of EO, the NGP and ME availability at 1% level of supplementation was
comparable with control, while values of all other parameters were
significantly (P < 0.01) lower than control and positive control.
