Feed quality, digestibility, and methane emission trade-offs among conventional and unconventional fodder resources in smallholder dairy systems of Rwanda.

This study evaluated feed quality, digestibility, intake potential, energy supply, and methane emission trade-offs among conventional and unconventional fodder resources available during the dry season across two agro-ecological zones of Rwanda.

Feed quality, digestibility, intake, energy, and methane-related parameters were estimated using simulation models, while multivariate and correlation analyses assessed relationships among nutritional attributes and methane production. Significant differences were observed among fodder classes in nutritional composition, digestibility, energy value, and predicted methane production (P < 0.05). Crude protein ranged from 5–26.5%, NDF from 42–69%, metabolizable energy from 4.68–13 MJ/kg DM, and predicted methane production from 12.8–32 g/day.