EFFECT OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF RHIZOMES OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE ON THE IN VITRO DIGESTIBILITY OF PENNISETUM CLANDESTINUM HAY IN SMALL RUMINANTS

The study of the effect of essential oil (HE) of rhizomes of Zingiber officinale on the in vitro digestibility of Pennisetum clandestinum hay was undertaken between January 2016 and February 2017  at the Experimental Farm, and in the Laboratory of Animal Production and Nutrition of the University of Dschang. Two sources of rumen fluid (sheep and goat) were used for this study. The rhizomes of Zingiber officinale were harvested in parcel of culture in Santchou. Essential oil was extracted from the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale by the hydrodistillation technique. Ration included hay of Pennisetum clandestinum (90%) and concentrates (10%). Four doses (0, 100, 200 and 400mg/kg of dry matter) of this essential oil were used during the incubation of different rations. The results of this study showed that, no matter the ruminal liquid considered, gas production (GP) after 24h of incubation, volatile fatty acids (VFA), metabolizable energy (ME ), as well as the in vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVOMD) significantly (p<0.05) increased with the addition of 100 or 200mg essential oil of rhizomes of Zingiber officinale with the rations -based of Pennisetum clandestinum hay. The highest values of these parameters (35.9ml/500mg; 0.79mmol/40ml; 8.11MJ/kg DM and 55.91% respectively) were obtained with the ration containing 200mg essential. The addition of 400mg of this oil significantly (p<0.05) lowered the concentration of these components. The microbial mass (MM) significantly (p<0.05) dropped with the addition of the essential oil of the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale in the rations. This study shows that the addition of the essential oil of rhizomes of Zingiber officinale in the rations -based of the Pennisetum clandestinum hay contributes to improve its digestibility in the small ruminants