| Summary: | Experimental data on the effects of cleavers (Galium aparine) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium) extracts on rumen microbial fermentation are
scarce. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of cleavers and yarrow extracts on in vitro ruminal fermentation. Incubation
trial was carried out using the long-term rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC). The experiment lasted 10 days. After an adaptation period
of 5 days, the fermentation vessels divided into 3 groups; first three vessels received no additives (control), second three vessels received 500
mg/L cleavers extract daily, and third three vessels received 500 mg/L yarrow extract daily. Supplementations of cleavers and yarrow extracts
had no significant effect on ruminal pH, total volatile fatty acids (VFA), acetate, propionate and methane production, NH3-N concentration
and, total protozoa. However, both extracts decreased dry matter digestibility (DMD) (P<0.05). Butyrate production, on the other hand,
increased with cleavers extract (P<0.05). In conclusion, there were only small effects of cleavers and yarrow extracts on the investigated
microbial fermentation characteristics. Nevertheless, it may be considered advantageous for feed conversion that plant extracts did not
suppress ruminal fermentation in spite of decreasing DMD.
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