Effect of lavender and peppermint essential oil on in vitro methanogenesis and fermentation of feed with buffalo rumen liquor

The study was carried out to determine the effect of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and peppermint (Mentha piperita) essential oils (EO) (0, 1.5 and 3.0 µl/ml) on fermentation, digestibility, gas and methane production of feed with Buffalo rumen liquor. The study was performed with alfalfa and concentrate mixture (60:40) as a substrate and two buffalo was used as inoculum for rumen fluid in in vitro gas production. As a result, gas production was increased with supplementation of 1.5 µl/ml lavender and peppermint EO oil but decreased supplementation of 3.0 µl/ml (P 0.05). Rumen pH was not affected with lavender and peppermint EO supplementation (P>0.05), that changed within normal range of rumen pH (6.5 to 7.0). Ruminal acetate production was increased, and propionate and butyrate production were decreased with 3.0 µl/ml peppermint EO supplementation. Lavender EO was more effective for reduction of methane production without negative effects (especially gas production and TDMD) but this effect becomes negative effects at higher doses of EO supplementations. So, lavender and peppermint EO could be need more study as a feed additive to reduce methanogenesis in in vivo.