Calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids from linseed oil decrease methane production by altering the rumen microbiome in vitro

PLoS One. 2020 Nov 10;15(11):e0242158. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242158. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids (CSFA) from linseed oil have the potential to reduce methane (CH4) production from ruminants; however, there is little information on the effect of supplementary CSFA on rumen microbiome as well as CH4 production. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of supplementary CSFA on ruminal fermentation, digestibility, CH4 production, and rumen microbiome in vitro. We compared five treatments: three CSFA concentrations-0% (CON), 2.25% (FAL) and 4.50% (FAH) on a dry matter (DM) basis-15 mM of fumarate (FUM), and 20 mg/kg DM of monensin (MON). The results showed that the proportions of propionate in FAL, FAH, FUM, and MON were increased, compared with CON (P < 0.05). Although DM and neutral detergent fiber expressed exclusive of residual ash (NDFom) digestibility decreased in FAL and FAH compared to those in CON (P < 0.05), DM digestibility-adjusted CH4 production in FAL and FAH was reduced by 38.2% and 63.0%, respectively, compared with that in CON (P < 0.05). The genera Ruminobacter, Succinivibrio, Succiniclasticum, Streptococcus, Selenomonas.1, and Megasphaera, which are related to propionate production, were increased (P < 0.05), while Methanobrevibacter and protozoa counts, which are associated with CH4 production, were decreased in FAH, compared with CON (P < 0.05). The results suggested that the inclusion of CSFA significantly changed the rumen microbiome, leading to the acceleration of propionate production and the reduction of CH4 production. In conclusion, although further in vivo study is needed to evaluate the reduction effect on rumen CH4 production, CSFA may be a promising candidate for reduction of CH4 emission from ruminants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Body Weight
  • Calcium / chemistry*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • DNA, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Detergents
  • Digestion
  • Fatty Acids / chemistry*
  • Fermentation
  • Fumarates / chemistry
  • Gases
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Linseed Oil / chemistry*
  • Megasphaera / metabolism
  • Methane / chemistry*
  • Microbiota*
  • Monensin / chemistry
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / metabolism
  • Rumen / microbiology*
  • Salts / chemistry*
  • Selenomonas / metabolism
  • Sheep
  • Silage / analysis
  • Streptococcus / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Detergents
  • Fatty Acids
  • Fumarates
  • Gases
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Salts
  • Linseed Oil
  • Monensin
  • Methane
  • Calcium

Grants and funding

This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellows (20J15021) and a Grant from GAP Fund Program of Kyoto University (2019).