Bamboo grass (Tiliacora triandra Diels) pellet (BP) was assessed as a rumen modifier on feed intake, rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibilities, microbial population, and methane production in swamp buffaloes. Four male swamp buffaloes with 350 ± 10 kg of body weight (BW) were allotted according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The treatments were as follows: roughage to concentrate ratio (R:C) at 70:30 (T1), R:C at 70:30 with BP supplementation at 150 g/day (T2), R:C at 30:70 (T3), and R:C at 30:70 with BP supplementation at 150 g/day (T4). All animals were restricted to 2.5% of BW. The findings revealed that ruminal pH was reduced by the R:C at 30:70 fed groups (T3, T4); however, the rumen pH was enhanced (P < 0.05) in BP supplemented (T4) and there was an interaction between R:C and BP groups (P < 0.05). The propionate (C3) concentration was increased by the R:C ratio at 30:70 and BP fed groups (P < 0.01), and it was the highest at R:C ratio of 30:70 with BP supplemented group. Total VFA and buterate (C4) concentation were not changed (P > 0.05), while acetate (C2) concentration was reduced (P < 0.05) in the BP fed groups and there was an interaction (P < 0.05). Estimation of CH4 production in the rumen was remarkably reduced by the R:C ratio with BP supplementation (P < 0.01). Furthermore, apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, NDF, and ADF were significantly increased in the R:C ratio 30:70 (P < 0.01). Nitrogen absorption and nitrogen retention were also significantly altered by R:C at 30:70 (P < 0.01) and nitrogen absorption was an interaction (P < 0.01). Based on this study, it could be concluded that supplementation of BP resulted in improvement of ruminal pH, enhanced C3, and reduced CH4 production. Thus, BP could be a dietary rumen enhancer.
Keywords: Microbial protein; Plant secondary compounds; Rumen fermentation; Tiliacora triandra Diels.