Fatty acid profile and in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics of maize silage augmented with canola silage

The objective was to investigate the effect of replacing maize silage (MS) with canola silage (CS) on the chemical composition and fatty acid (FA) profile of total mixed rations (TMR) containing these silages, and on in vitro rumen fermentation and methane production from them. The canola (Brassica napus var. Monty) was cultivated on a small-scale agricultural farm and harvested at 148 days after sowing. Maize silage in a TMR was replaced with 0%, 15%, 25%, and 35% CS to make the rations CS0, CS15, CS25, and CS35, respectively. Proximate analyses of the rations were evaluated in a completely randomized design. The results showed that linolenic acid increased linearly with the level of CS, primarily at the expense of linoleic acid. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) was similar among treatments. However, in vitro neutral detergent fibre digestibility (IVNDF) decreased linearly (P <0.05) when the CS proportion increased in the TMR. The lowest ammonia nitrogen content (P <0.05) was observed in CS35. The soluble fraction (A) increased (P <0.05) when the CS increased in the TMR from 0% to 35%. In vitro methane (CH4) production was lowest with CS25 and CS35, decreasing 34% and 23.9%, respectively, compared with CS0. Linolenic acid had a negative correlation with IVNDF (r = -0.94; P <0.05). The IVDMD and methane production were positively correlated (r = 0.60) (P <0.05). In conclusion, 25% and 35% augmentation of MS with CS in a TMR was an important source of linolenic acid (C18:3) and decreased in vitro methane production.