Abstract
Seven combinations of monensin (33 mg/kg of the dietary DM) and vegetable oils(coconut oil, palm oil, soybean oil, sunflower
oil, canola oil and linseed oil) (33 g/kg of the dietary DM) supplementations were tested to reduce in vitro enteric methane
production in goats. Data showed that all treatmentsfrom supplementation of monensin and vegetable oilssignificantly reduced
in vitro enteric methane production compared to control from 40.55-48.58%. In addition, total gas production also decreased
from7.37-29.47% and number of protozoa decreased from 64.15-75.47% compared with the control. Supplementation of
monensin and vegetable oils had no effect on rumen pH, microbial protein, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and in
vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), but had effect on ammonia concentration. Supplementation of monensin and
vegetable oils effectively lowered total gas production, enteric methane production and number of protozoa in the rumen.
However, the best supplementation was monensin-sunflower oil (MSf) which can reduce total gas production up to 29.47%,
enteric methane production up to 48.58%, number of protozoa up to 75.47% compared to control (CD), without affecting the
process of fermentation in the rumen.
