Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Enteric Methane Emission of Growing Dairy Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis L.)

Enteric Methane Emission in Probiotic-Fed Dairy Buffaloes

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of probiotics on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and enteric methane emission of 4 growing dairy buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis L.) with similar body weight, age, and sex. The animals were allocated into 4 treatments following a Latin Square design: control/no probiotic supplement (Trt 1); with 5 mL probiotic supplement (Trt 2); with 10 mL probiotic supplement (Trt 3); and with 15 mL probiotic supplement (Trt 4). The growers were offered the dietary treatments at the start of the adaptation phase up to the end of the experimental phase per period. Animals were fed the control diet during the wash-out phase. Results showed that growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and enteric methane emissions were the same across treatments (p > 0.05). However, significant correlations (p < 0.05) were found between total methane emissions and nutrient intake, nutrients digested, and coefficient of digestion. These variables were used to develop the model: CH₄ = 135.9897NDFi + 240.27082CPi – 121.3028OMi + 89.60728 (R² = 0.4138, RMSE = 22.35), where NDFi, CPi, and OMi represent neutral detergent fiber intake, crude protein intake, and organic matter intake, respectively. The relationship between the quantity of nutrients digested and methane synthesis highlights their importance in developing prediction models for enteric methane emissions, particularly in country-specific estimations.