Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 8, 2026

The Use of an Automated System GreenFeed to Monitor Enteric Methane and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Ruminant Animals
Published on: September 7, 2015
Effect of combined herbal feed additives on methane, total gas production and rumen fermentation
Indu Chaturvedi1, Tapas Kumar Dutta2, Pawan Kumar Singh3
1Department of Animal Nutrition, Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, P.O. Farah, Mathura-281 122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Abstract:
The present study was to evaluate effect of herbal feed additives on methane and total gas production during the rumen fermentation for environment and animal health concern. Different parts of the five medicinal plants were selected such as leaf and small stems of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), roots of Curcuma longa (Haldi), fruits of Emblica officinalis (Amla), leaves of Azadirachta indica (Neem) and leaves and small stem of Clerodendrum phlomidis (Arni) for our study. Addition of different herbal additive combinations did not influence IVDMD and total gas production however methane production (mg/g of substrate DM) was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in Amla: Neem and Neem: Arni combinations. Total nitrogen significantly (P<0.01) increased in the combinations of Tulsi: Haldi and Amla: Neem. TCA-ppt-N is significantly (P<0.01) increased in Tulsi: Haldi, Haldi: Amla, Amla: Neem and Neem: Arni however NH3-N (mg/dl) significantly decreased in all treatments. We conclude that the screening of plant combinations, Amla: Neem and Neem: Arni have potential to decrease methane production and our herbal feed supplements have no side-effects on the ruminant in small amount.
Related Concept Videos
Microbes and Methanogenesis
Microbial Interactions: Mutualism
Production of Organic Acids
Microbes in the Production of Fermented Foods

