In vitro fermentation experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of 3 sources of
exogenous cellulase products (EC) at 4 dose rates (DR) (0, 12, 37 and 62 IU/g of DM) on degradation
of forage and methane production by mixed rumen micro-organisms of goats. The maximum gas
production (Vf) of grasses was higher (P<0.001) in Neocallimastix patriciarum (NP) group than those in
Trichoderma reesei (TR) and Trichoderma longibrachiatum (TL) groups. Quadratic increases in dry
matter degradation (DMD) of forage and neutral detergent fiber (NDFD) of straw were observed for all
EC, with optimum DR in the low range. Supplementation of EC originated from TR and NP increased
(P<0.001) DMD of forage compared to that from TL. Addition of EC originated from TR and NP also
decreased pH value, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and methane (CH4) production compared to that from
TL. Quadratic decreases in pH value, NH3-N and CH4 of forage were noted for EC of TR and NP, and
with optimum DR in the low range. For short chain fatty acid, the EC of NP increased total volatile
fatty acid (TVFA) and acetate concentration and the ratio of acetate to propionate of forage compared
with EC of TL and TR, and with optimum DR in the low to medium range. It was concluded that the
source of EC differed in fiber degradation and methane emission, and with optimum DR of TR in the
low range (from 12 to 37 U/g DM) in improving fiber degradation and decreasing methane emission
