Effect of the addition ofEnterolobium cyclocarpumpods andGliricidia sepiumforage toBrachiaria brizanthaon dry matter degradation, volatile fatty acid concentration, and in vitro methane production

The purpose of this study was to determine the in vitro fermentation and methane (CH4) production in the grassBrachiaria brizantha(B) alone or when mixed withGliricidia sepiumforage (G) and/orEnterolobium cyclocarpumpods (E). Theses substrates were incubated in the following proportions: B100 (B100%), B85E15 (B85% + E15%), B85G15 (B85% + G15%), B85GE15 (B85% + G7.5% + E7.5%), and B70GE30 (B70% + G15% + E15%). Dry matter degradation (DMD), volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, and CH(4)production were measured at 12, 24, and 48 h of incubation. Experimental design was a randomized complete block. At 48-h incubation, DMD ranged between 46.5 and 51.2% (P = 0.0015). The lowest cumulative gas production (CGP) was observed in B85E15 and B85G15 (160 mL CGP/g organic matter, on average). At 48 h, B85G15 and B100 produced 28.8 and 30.2 mg CH4/g DMD, respectively, while B85E15 or the mixtures, 33.5 mg CH4/g DMD, on average (P <= 0.05). B85E15 and B70G30 had the highest concentration of total VFA (P <= 0.05). Results showed that B85E15 and B70GE30 favor DMD and increased total production of VFA and CH(4)at 48 h. Supplementing livestock feed with legume forages and pods allows improves the nutritional quality of the diet and the fermentation patterns.