Evaluation of Some Commercial Food Rations in Terms of Chemical Composition, Methane Production, Net Energy and Organic Substance Digestibility

Abstract

The change in living standards in developing countries and the rapid increment in the world population increase the need for plant and animal food. Agriculture and animal husbandry practices become more common day by day to meet the need for food and obtain more products. This situation increases the amount of waste per unit of animal products. Increased animal excrement is associated with greenhouse gas emissions, it harms the environment and animal health. Methane, one of these greenhouse gases, increases poses significant threat to global warming. Today, studies that optimize rumen and animal productivity in order to reduce methane release caused by ruminant animals are among the subjects that attract the attention of researchers. This study is purpose to evaluate the beef rations in terms of chemical composition, methane production, net energy and organic matter digestibility by collecting roughage and concentrate feed mixtures (TMR) obtained from different livestock farms in Niğde province. Thus, for increase the productivity of livestock in small farms in Turkey, the ratios of feed raw materials at the farm scale were determined, and evaluations were made according to the results of the lower and upper limits obtained from the fattening rations. In vitro gas production technique was used for gas and methane production of TMR samples. Nutrient contents obtained from different livestock farms Crude Protein (9.58- 14.72), Raw Oil (1.89- 2.30), CA (7.64-13.92), ADF (19.77-27.82) NDF (36.71-45.69) Dry Matter (90.48-91.79), methane (CH₄), OMS, NEL and ME values were also different. In the study, it was observed that the ration contents were not calculated according to the age, developmental stage, fattening period and needs of the animal. It was determined that different rations were used in farms even in animal groups with similar characteristics. It can be said that a more economical and profitable animal husbandry can be made by recording the fattening performances of animals such as live weight gain, weight gain at the beginning and end of fattening, feed consumption.