Amino acid‐montmorillonite nanocomposites: preparation, characteristics and biological effects on ruminal fermentation and greenhouse gas emission potential in diets exposed to aflatoxin
B1
Yosra Soltan, Amr Morsy, Mahmoud Elazab, Amr El‐Nile, Nesrein Hashem, Mohamed Sultan, Younis Hamad, Gomaa Abo El Lail, Sohila Abo‐Sherif, Ehab Kheadr, Elsayed Hafez, Sobhy Sallam Abstract
BACKGROUND
Modified clays demonstrate superior modulation of ruminal fermentation compared to natural clays and exhibit effects distinct from monensin, suggesting novel modes of action for methane (CH 4 ) mitigation. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of amino acid–montmorillonite nanocomposites (AA‐MNC) in modulating ruminal fermentation and mitigating methane production in diets contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) by the in vitro gas production technique. Two AA‐MNC clays were developed by modifying natural montmorillonite (NM) with methionine and threonine, resulting in Met‐MNC and Thr‐MNC clays, respectively. The treatments consisted of –AFB1diet (basal substrate without supplementation), +AFB1 diet (‐AFB1diet at a final concentration of 20 ppb AFB1), NM diet [+AFB1 diet supplemented with NM at 5 g kg −1 dry matter (DM)], monensin (+AFB1 diet supplemented with monensin at 40 mg kg −1 DM), and Met‐MNC and Thr‐MNC supplemented to the +AFB1 diet at two levels: 0.5 g kg −1 DM (low) and 1 g kg −1 DM (high).
RESULTS
Both AA‐MNC clays showed increased surface area, cation exchange capacity, and narrow particle size distribution compared to NM clay. The +AFB1 diet decreased ( P < 0.05) acid detergent fiber degradation compared with the other treatments. Both low and high levels of Met‐MNC and Thr‐MNC resulted in comparable reductions in CH 4 production. These reductions were similar to those observed with the monensin diet when compared with the –AFB1 and NM diets ( P = 0.058). High levels of AA‐MNC decreased ( P < 0.001) total short‐chain fatty acid concentrations relative to the NM and –AFB1 diets. By contrast, low levels of AA‐MNC increased ( P = 0.001) acetate production compared with high supplementation levels.
CONCLUSION
These findings highlight the potential of supplementing AA‐MNC at low dose as a promising feed additive for sustainable livestock production through CH 4 mitigation at the same time as maintaining rumen nutrient degradability. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.