Effects of Processing Methods and Inclusion Levels of Dried Garlic on In Vitro Fermentation and Methane Production in a Corn Silage-Based Substrate

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Herbs and spices have been used because they show antimicrobial properties. In this regard, garlic might modify rumen fermentation and potentially reduce methane. However, the effect of garlic inclusion on in vitro fermentation and methane production has been variable. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of different inclusion levels and processing methods of garlic on in vitro fermentation and methane production using a corn silage-based substrate. The initial condition of the garlic (intact or smashed), drying process (freeze-dried, oven-dried, or autoclaved), and garlic proportion in the diet (0, 2.5, and 5%) were evaluated in vitro. Thus, three different incubations were conducted, and in vitro fermentation and methane emissions were evaluated after 24 h of incubation. Neither the initial condition nor the drying process of garlic modified the fermentation and methane production. However, increasing garlic inclusions increased in vitro digestibility and the concentration of volatile fatty acids and ammonia and modified the proportion of acetate and propionate, suggesting greater in vitro fermentation. Methane was not affected when garlic was increased. Further work should be conducted in vivo to confirm the fermentation improvement when garlic is included in a corn silage-based diet. ABSTRACT: Garlic (Allium sativum) contains secondary compounds that are known to modify rumen fermentation parameters and decrease methane (CH(4)) emissions. The objective was to evaluate the effects of increasing the inclusion levels and processing methods of garlic on in vitro fermentation and CH(4) production. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 3 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement, where the main factors were the initial condition of garlic (intact or smashed), drying process (freeze-dried, oven-dried, or autoclaved), and garlic proportion in the diet (2.5 and 5%) and one control (without garlic supplementation). Incubations were conducted using corn silage and cotton-gin trash (80:20, respectively) as basal substrates on three different days. Final pH, the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia nitrogen (NH(3)-N), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), total gas production, and CH(4) concentration were determined after 24 h. Initial garlic condition or drying processing neither modify (p > 0.05) the in vitro fermentation nor the CH(4) production. However, increasing garlic inclusion linearly increased (p < 0.05) IVOMD, the concentration of the total VFA, and the proportion of propionate. Also, the concentration of NH(3)-N and the proportion of acetate increased quadratically (p < 0.05) with greater garlic inclusions. Finally, garlic inclusion did not affect (p > 0.05) gas and CH(4) production. In conclusion, increasing garlic levels, but not the processing methods, improved in vitro fermentation but did not modify CH(4) emissions under in vitro conditions.