Effect Of Coconut Oil On Rumen Microbe And Methanogesis Of Sheep Supplementing With Different Diets

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of coconuts oil on rumen microbial population, methane production and rumen fermentation parameters. Real-time PCR was used to detect the population of Ruminococcus Fungi, Ruminococcus flavefaciens,Ruminococcus methanogen and Fibrobacter succinogenes in the rumen of domestic sheep in this study. Treatments are as follows: T₁(only oat),T₂(oat and corn, ratio is 6:4),T₃(oat and corn, ratio is 6:4, supplement: 12g/d coconuts oil),T₄(oat, supplement: 12g/d coconuts oil)The main results are shown as folliws:1. After designation and installation of new fistulas,the experimental sheep were cared in a healthy state and without infection and leaking of rumen fluid.2. Real-time PCR was used to detect the population of Ruminococcus Fungi, Ruminococcus flavefaciens,Ruminococcus methanogen and Fibrobacter succinogenes in the rumen, the results indicated that the microbial population was significantly inhibited after addition of coconuts oil. Comparing to T1 (oat), after supplement of coconuts oil, Ruminococcus methanogen decreased by 91.6%, Ruminococcus flavefaciens was reduced by 47.6%, Ruminococcus Fung was decreased to 3.57%, and Fibrobacter succinogenes was reduced by 98.5%.3. Methane production was measured by tunnel method, the results indicated that coconuts oil could significantly inhibit rumen methanogesis, methane production was decreased by 65.2% after the addition of coconuts oil. And the results of the rumen fermentation parameters showed that the NH3-N concentration was apparently decreased after addition of coconuts oil; and the ratio of Acetate to propionate was reduced significantly compaed to the control.