In vitro GAS PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE USED TO ESTIMATE THE PRODUCTION OF METHANE

Abstract

Since the mid-twentieth century, in vitro gas production is a highly used technique to evaluate the effect of feedstuff, diets and additives on ruminal fermentation. More recently, this technique has also been used to estimate the production of methane (CH₄), product of ruminal fermentation, either by gas chromatography, with a portable gas analyzer, or with a solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Any of them is useful to predict the methanogenic potential of the substrates or additives used in ruminant diets; however, each has its peculiarities that must be taken into account when deciding how to estimate the production of CH₄ with the in vitro gas production technique (IVGPT).