The Effects of Dietary Saponins on Ruminal Methane Production and Fermentation Parameters in Sheep: A Meta Analysis
Subject Areas : Camel
B.
Darabighane
1
(Department of Animal Science, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran)
A.
Mahdavi
2
(Department of Animal Nutrition, Rearing and Breeding, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran)
F.
Mirzaei Aghjehgheshlagh
3
(Department of Animal Science, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran)
B.
Navidshad
4
(Department of Animal Science, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran)
M.H.
Yousefi
5
(Department of Animal Nutrition, Rearing and Breeding, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran)
M.R.F.
Lee
6
(Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2SB, United Kingdom|Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford, Somerset, BS40 5DU, United Kingdom)
Keywords: methane, meta-analysis, Sheep, Saponin,
Abstract :
Ruminants production systems are facing a critical period within global agriculture due to their unique digestive system which, whilst allowing them to utilize low-quality fiber-rich feed, produces the potent greenhouse gas methane (CH4) as a by-product. It has been proposed that saponin-rich plants can be used to reduce CH4 emissions from ruminant livestock, although the reported results are variable in terms of efficacy. Here we use meta-analytical methods to investigate the literature to determine if saponins can contribute to reducing CH4 production and its further effects on other rumen fermentation parameters in sheep. Following defined search terms available papers on the subject were collected for the period 1990 to 2019 and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, an analysis was conducted on CH4 production, CH4 per dry matter intake (DMI), ruminal pH, total volatile fatty acid (VFA), acetate, propionate, butyrate, and acetate-to-propionate ratio based on a comparison between a saponin supplemented group and a control group. The standardized effect size (Hedges’ g) was calculated at the confidence interval of 95%. Q-test and I2 statistic were used to determine heterogeneity and publication bias was identified through the Egger test. The meta-analysis determined that using saponin sources tended to decrease CH4 production (P=0.062) and acetate-to-propionate ratio (P=0.057), with a reduction in CH4/DMI (P=0.001) and an increase in propionate concentration (P=0.011). No significant difference was observed in ruminal pH, total VFA concentration, and butyrate concentration. The I2statistic for the parameters analyzed here was below 50% for heterogeneity with the Egger test results indicating a publication bias for CH4 production.
Borenstein M., Hedges L.V., Higgins J.P. and Rothstein H.R. (2011). Introduction to Meta-Analysis. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, United Kingdom.
Cohen J. (1988). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, New Jersey, USA.
Hess H.D., Beuret R.A., Lötscher M., Hindrichsen I.K., Machmüller A., Carulla J.E., Lascano C.E. and Kreuzer M. (2004). Ruminal fermentation, methanogenesis and nitrogen utilization of sheep receiving tropical grass hay-concentrate diets offered with Sapindus saponaria fruits and Cratylia argentea foliage. Anim. Sci. 79, 177-189.
Jayanegara A., Wina E. and Takahashi J. (2014). Meta-analysis on methane mitigating properties of saponin-rich sources in the rumen: influence of addition levels and plant sources. Asian-Australasian J. Anim. 27, 1426-1433.
Johnson K.A. and Johnson D.E. (1995). Methane emissions from cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 73, 2483-2492.
Klita P.T., Mathison G.W., Fenton T.W. and Hardin R.T. (1996). Effects of alfalfa root saponins on digestive function in sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 74, 1144-1156.
Lean I.J., Rabiee A.R., Duffield T.F. and Dohoo I.R. (2009). Invited review: Use of meta-analysis in animal health and reproduction: Methods and applications. J. Dairy Sci. 92, 3545-3565.
Liu Y., Ma T., Chen D., Zhang N., Si B., Deng K., Tu Y. and Diao Q. (2019). Effects of tea saponin supplementation on nutrient digestibility, methanogenesis, and ruminal microbial flora in Dorper crossbred ewe. Animals. 9, 29-41.
Mao H.L., Wang J.K., Zhou Y.Y. and Liu J.X. (2010). Effects of addition of tea saponins and soybean oil on methane production, fermentation and microbial population in the rumen of growing lambs. Livest. Sci. 129, 56-62.
Martin C., Morgavi D.P. and Doreau M. (2010). Methane mitigation in ruminants: From microbe to the farm scale. Animal. 4, 351-365.
Morgavi D.P., Forano E., Martin C. and Newbold C.J. (2010). Microbial ecosystem and methanogenesis in ruminants. Animal. 4, 1024-1036.
Moss A.R., Jouany J.P. and Newbold J. (2000). Methane production by ruminants: Its contribution to global warming. Ann. Zootech. 49, 231-253.
Patra A.K. and Saxena J. (2009). The effect and mode of action of saponins on the microbial populations and fermentation in the rumen and ruminant production. Nutr. Res. Rev. 22, 204-219.
Patra A.K. and Saxena J. (2010). A new perspective on the use of plant secondary metabolites to inhibit methanogenesis in the rumen. Phytochemistry. 71, 1198-1222.
Patra A., Park T., Kim M. and Yu Z. (2017). Rumen methanogens and mitigation of methane emission by anti-methanogenic compounds and substances. J. Anim. Sci. Biotechnol. 8, 13-21.
Pen B., Takaura K., Yamaguchi S., Asa R. and Takahashi J. (2007). Effects of Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria with or without β 1–4 galacto-oligosaccharides on ruminal fermentation, methane production and nitrogen utilization in sheep. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 138, 75-88.
Sales J. (2011). Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on ruminal parameters, nutrient digestibility, and growth in sheep: A meta-analysis. Small Rumin. Res. 100, 19-29.
Santoso B., Mwenya B., Sar C., Gamo Y., Kobayashi T., Morikawa R., Kimurab K., Mizukoshi H. and Takahashi J. (2004). Effects of supplementing galacto-oligosaccharides, Yucca schidigera or nisin on rumen methanogenesis, nitrogen and energy metabolism in sheep. Livest. Prod. Sci. 91, 209-217.
Śliwiński B.J., Kreuzer M., Wettstein H.R. and Machmüller A. (2002). Rumen fermentation and nitrogen balance of lambs fed diets containing plant extracts rich in tannins and saponins, and associated emissions of nitrogen and methane. Arch. Anim. Nutr. 56, 379-392.
Sutton A.J. and Higgins J.P. (2008). Recent developments in meta analysis. Stat. Med. 27, 625-650.
Wang C.J., Wang S.P. and Zhou H. (2009). Influences of flavomycin, ropadiar, and saponin on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, and methane emission from sheep. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 148, 157-166.
Wina E., Muetzel S. and Becker K. (2005). The impact of saponins or saponin-containing plant materials on ruminant production. A Review. J. Agric. Food Chem. 53, 8093-8105.
Yuan Z.P., Zhang C.M., Zhou L., Zou C.X., Guo Y.Q., Li W.T., Liu J.X. and Wu Y.M. (2007). Inhibition of methanogenesis by tea saponin and tea saponin plus disodium fumarate in sheep. J. Anim. Feed Sci. 16, 560-565.