Feed pellets for dairy cows using mangosteen peels and neem leaves to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Types of food materials: Mangosteen peels and neem leaves
Product obtained from research: Feed pellets for dairy cows containing polyphenols from mangosteen peels and neem leaves

Mangosteen peels and neem leaves contain polyphenols; therefore, an experiment was conducted to feed Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (75%) in formulas containing mangosteen peels and neem leaves in different proportions, namely:

Formula 1: Feed pallets without neem leaves and mangosteen peels (control group)
Formula 2: Feed pallets containing 5% neem leaves
Formula 3: Feed pallets containing 10% neem leaves
Formula 4: Feed pallets containing 5% mangosteen peel
Formula 5: Feed pallets containing 10% mangosteen peel
Formula 6: Feed pallets containing 5% neem leaves and 5% mangosteen peels

The results showed that the feed pellets supplemented with neem leaves and mangosteen peels had an effect on increasing the digestibility of insoluble fiber in neutral solutions and propionic acid in the rumen. Dairy cows fed with the supplemented feed pallets have lower levels of ammonia nitrogen values, proportion of acetic acid to propionic acid, methane gas quantity, protozoan population, and methanogen, compared to the control group. The lowest values were in groups that received the supplemented feed pallets Formula 3 (Feed pellets containing 10% neem leaves), Formula 5 (feed pallets containing 10% mangosteen peels), and Formula 6 (Feed pellets containing 5% neem leaves and 5% mangosteen peels). However, dairy cows that were fed with the feed pallets containing neem leaves and mangosteen peels produced milk with the adjusted fat at the level of 3.5% and high protein, resulting in a higher economic return compared to the control group. It is noted that there is no difference in the chemical composition of milk, it includes fat, lactose, and total solids. Also, it does not affect the amount of food eaten by dairy cows. Therefore, the feed pellets supplemented with neem leaves and mangosteen peels containing polyphenols help improve the fermentation process in the rumen, reduce the protozoan population and methanogens, and reduce the release of methanogen gases. It also helps increase milk production in milking cows.

Project “Supplementation of polyphenol in high quality complete feed block on nutrient digestibility, rumen ecology, methane production, milk yield, and milk composition in dairy cows”

Supported by the National Research Council of Thailand (Fiscal year 2020)

Researcher

Asst. Prof. Dr. Kampanat Phesatcha and team
Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, Nakhon Phanom University 
103 Kham Thao, Mueang District, Nakhon Phanom, 48000
Tel: 0-4254-3222 Fax: 0-4254-3122 Email: kampanatmon@gmail.com