Abstract

Ability of Mentha puelgium and Thymus algeriensis Essential Oils to Reduce Methanogenosis in Cheep: In Vitro Study

Author(s): Djabri Belgacem, Rouabhi Rachid, Aouaichia Houria, Rezaiguia Nadjia,Yousfi Amani and Kechroud Fatma Seghira

The methane (CH4) is a gas produced in large quantities in the rumen by degradation of food ration performed by methanogenic archaea and protozoa. Efforts have been made to reduce the methane emissions by ruminants, which is advantageous for nutritional and environmental perspective. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of essential oils (EO) extracted from Thymus algeriensis and Mentha pulegium on the methane production and the rumen digestibility. The extraction of EO from the plants was made by steam distillation. To study the effect of these EO on the rumen methanogenesis and the digestibility of the dray and organic matter, the method of Menke and Stingass (1988) was adopted using three doses (16.6, 33.3 and 66.6µl). The results of this study indicate that EO decreased the production of methane after 72 hours of fermentation for the different doses. This decrease the number of protozoa on which the methanogenic archaea was grafted. The results of the digestibility showed that EO do not affect the digestibility of the dray and organic matter of the oaten vetch hay. These results are very important because they can justify partially the use of Mentha pulegium and Thymus algeriensis in the ruminant alimentation.