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Tannins can be utilized to increase rumen undegradable protein (RUP) by their capacity to form complexes with diverse nutrients present in the feed. In that regard, high-performance ruminants demand elevated RUP levels. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of incorporating varying levels of tannin into three protein sources (cottonseed, peanut, and soybean meals) on ruminal kinetic parameters, ruminal fermentation, and intestinal digestibility. Thus, three in situ experiments were conducted to investigate the ruminal degradation kinetics, where Fraction A represents the soluble portion, Fraction B relates to the portion potentially degraded in the rumen, and kd denotes the degradation rate of Fraction B, for both dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) in the rumen. Additionally, the study assessed dry matter effective degradability (ED), rumen undegradable protein (RUP), and intestinal digestibility (ID). These experiments utilized three cannulated animals for the in situ incubations. Regarding cottonseed meal in terms of DM degradation kinetics, tannin inclusion had a quadratic effect on fraction A (p < 0.01), B (p = 0.10, trend), kd (p = 0.03), and ED (p < 0.01). Fraction A of CP had a cubic effect (p = 0.03), being greater for the control compared with the other treatments. The inclusion of tannin linearly increased RUP (p < 0.01). The RUP proportion increased 29, 33, and 45% when 20, 40, and 60 g/kg tannin were used, respectively, compared to the control. For peanut meal, the A fraction of protein and RUP responded quadratically as tannin was included in peanut meal (p < 0.01). However, tannin levels did not affect fraction B of protein and ID. Regarding soybean meal, fractions A and B of DM and ED had cubic effects (p < 0.01), being greater for the control compared with the other treatments, and responded quadratically as tannin increased. Also, tannin inclusion had a cubic effect on fractions A and B of protein, RUP, and ID (p < 0.01). The cubic behavior showed greater B fraction and ID and lower A fraction and RUP for the control compared other treatments (p < 0.01). Tannins offer a promising avenue for elevating RUP levels in diets featuring cottonseed and peanut meals. Nevertheless, no advantages were observed when treating soybean meal with tannin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to determine the performance, digestibility and carcass characteristics of goats fed Gmelina arborea mixed with cowpea husk. The goats in treatment 1 received 0% Gmelina arborea leaf meal (GLM), treatment 2, 3 and 4 received 10, 20, and 30% GLM, respectively. The GLM replaced soya bean meal (SBM) weight for weight. The results reveal that T4 had significantly (p>0.05) higher values for dry matter (902.10 g Kg-1 DM), ash. (832.00 g Kg-1 DM), crude protein ((203.30 g Kg-1 DM), ether extract (42.21 g Kg-1 DM), neutral detergent fibre (601.31 g Kg-1 DM), acid detergent fibre (481.31 g Kg-1 DM), acid detergent lignin (91.19 g Kg-1 DM) and cellulose (390.12 g Kg-1 DM). The tannin content of the dietary treatments ranged from 062 - 0.82 mg g-1 DM. The dry matter intake (DMI), DMI W0.75 and Average daily gain (ADG) were significantly higher for T4. There were significant (p<0.05) effect for apparent nutrient digestibility as a result of GLM inclusion for all the dietary treatments except for ADL and NFE. The results of carcass characteristics and organ weight were significantly (p>0.05) different except for carcass length, weight of hind limb, fore limb and lungs which were not significantly (p<0.05) different. The Dressing percentage (DP) was higher for T4 than the other treatment groups. It can be concluded that feeding Gmelina arborea upto 30% level of inclusion showed marked inprovemnt for all the parameters studied. GLM can be recommended for inclusion in the diet of goats especially during the long period of dry season in the semi-arid environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acacia is the largest genus of flowering plants in Australia, occurring in all terrestrial habitats. Black acacia (Acacia mearnsii De Wild) is adapted to different geographical areas of the world. Its forage can be used in the feeding of ruminants using different alternatives (hay, silage, silvopasture, protein bank, meal or fresh forage) to reduce costs of low and mediumscale livestock farming. The present work is a descriptive-analytical review of the available scientific literature with the purpose of contributing to the update on the potential of Acacia negra as feed for ruminants. The methodology consisted in the compilation of scientific articles and publications of scientific, academic and technological institutions on the object of study. The results focused on: Origin and distribution, Taxonomy and plant characteristics, Crop characteristics, Forage production, Nutritive value and Effects of forage consumption in ruminants. The review concluded that A. mearnsii adapts to diverse ecosystems and under low-input conditions shows rapid growth and acceptable forage production, which, together with its protein content, make it an option for small and medium producers. This allows lowering production costs by reducing the consumption of concentrates or alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), without affecting production yields, mainly due to its high tannin content (main secondary metabolite), which favors the flow of amino acids from the diet from the rumen to the duodenum, among other beneficial effects on animal health and reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different forms of hydrolyzable tannin [ HT ; source (chestnut, CN ; tannic acid, TA); subunit (gallic acid, GA)] on apparent total-tract digestibility, methane (CH 4 ) production, and nitrogen (N) utilization in beef cattle fed an alfalfa silage-based diet. Eight ruminally cannulated heifers with an initial BW of 480 ± 29.2 kg (mean ± SD) were used in a double 4 × 4 Latin square experiment. The experiment consisted of four 28-d periods (14-d adaptation, 14-d measurements) and a 7-d washout between periods. The animals received a basal diet with 19.8% CP (DM basis) content containing 75% alfalfa silage, 20% barley silage, and 5% supplement (DM basis) with or without different forms of HT. The dietary treatments were as follows: control (no HT), GA (1.5% of diet DM), TA (1.5% of diet DM), and CN (2% of diet DM). Animals were fed 95% of their ad libitum intake during the measurement phase. Total fecal excretion was collected for 4 d, CH4 was measured for 72 h using respiration chambers, and ruminal fermentation variables and plasma urea N (PUN) concentration were measured on 2 nonconsecutive days before and after feeding. The restricted DM (DMI; 10.79 ± 1.076 kg/d) and nutrient intakes did not differ (P ≥ 0.22) among treatments. Furthermore, apparent DM digestibility (60.3 ± 0.86%) was not affected (P = 0.20) by treatment, but CP digestibility decreased for TA and CN compared with control and GA treatments (63.1 vs. 69.0%; P < 0.001). Total VFA concentration tended (P = 0.089) to increase for GA compared with control and TA (134 vs. 125 and 126 mM) and intermediate for CN (129 mM). The PUN concentration was lower for all HT treatments compared with control (196 vs. 213 mg/L; P = 0.02). Both TA and CN increased the proportion of N excreted in feces and decreased the proportion in urine compared with control and GA (43.9% vs. 37.8% and 56.1% vs. 62.2%; respectively; P < 0.001). However, the proportion of urea N in urinary N decreased for all HT treatments compared with control (47.2% vs. 51.2%; P = 0.02). Also, GA tended to decrease CH4/DMI (20.4 vs. 22.3 g/kg DMI; P = 0.07) and decreased the proportion of GE intake emitted as CH4 (5.16 vs. 5.71%; P = 0.04) compared with control. Thus, among the different forms of HT applied to a high-protein alfalfa silage-based diet, both TA and CN had no effect on CH4 production, but decreased CP digestibility and shifted N excretion from urine to feces, whereas GA (i.e. HT subunit) decreased CH4 production and decreased the proportion of urea N in urinary N in beef cattle without affecting CP digestibility. Thus, feeding the HT subunit, GA, has the potential to decrease environment impact of ruminants (lower CH4 and ammonia emissions), without decreasing animal performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different forms of hydrolyzable tannin [ HT ; source (chestnut, CN ; tannic acid, TA); subunit (gallic acid, GA)] on apparent total-tract digestibility, methane (CH 4 ) production, and nitrogen (N) utilization in beef cattle fed an alfalfa silage-based diet. Eight ruminally cannulated heifers with an initial BW of 480 ± 29.2 kg (mean ± SD) were used in a double 4 × 4 Latin square experiment. The experiment consisted of four 28-d periods (14-d adaptation, 14-d measurements) and a 7-d washout between periods. The animals received a basal diet with 19.8% CP (DM basis) content containing 75% alfalfa silage, 20% barley silage, and 5% supplement (DM basis) with or without different forms of HT. The dietary treatments were as follows: control (no HT), GA (1.5% of diet DM), TA (1.5% of diet DM), and CN (2% of diet DM). Animals were fed 95% of their ad libitum intake during the measurement phase. Total fecal excretion was collected for 4 d, CH4 was measured for 72 h using respiration chambers, and ruminal fermentation variables and plasma urea N (PUN) concentration were measured on 2 nonconsecutive days before and after feeding. The restricted DM (DMI; 10.79 ± 1.076 kg/d) and nutrient intakes did not differ (P ≥ 0.22) among treatments. Furthermore, apparent DM digestibility (60.3 ± 0.86%) was not affected (P = 0.20) by treatment, but CP digestibility decreased for TA and CN compared with control and GA treatments (63.1 vs. 69.0%; P < 0.001). Total VFA concentration tended (P = 0.089) to increase for GA compared with control and TA (134 vs. 125 and 126 mM) and intermediate for CN (129 mM). The PUN concentration was lower for all HT treatments compared with control (196 vs. 213 mg/L; P = 0.02). Both TA and CN increased the proportion of N excreted in feces and decreased the proportion in urine compared with control and GA (43.9% vs. 37.8% and 56.1% vs. 62.2%; respectively; P < 0.001). However, the proportion of urea N in urinary N decreased for all HT treatments compared with control (47.2% vs. 51.2%; P = 0.02). Also, GA tended to decrease CH4/DMI (20.4 vs. 22.3 g/kg DMI; P = 0.07) and decreased the proportion of GE intake emitted as CH4 (5.16 vs. 5.71%; P = 0.04) compared with control. Thus, among the different forms of HT applied to a high-protein alfalfa silage-based diet, both TA and CN had no effect on CH4 production, but decreased CP digestibility and shifted N excretion from urine to feces, whereas GA (i.e. HT subunit) decreased CH4 production and decreased the proportion of urea N in urinary N in beef cattle without affecting CP digestibility. Thus, feeding the HT subunit, GA, has the potential to decrease environment impact of ruminants (lower CH4 and ammonia emissions), without decreasing animal performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Feeding a diet containing oak acorn and extruded soybean seeds supplemented with polyethylene glycol had no effect on milk composition of goats. • Feeding a diet containing oak acorn and extruded soybean seeds supplemented with polyethylene glycol had no effect on ruminal fluid concentration of volatile fatty acids and plasma metabolites. • Feeding a diet containing oak acorn and extruded soybean seeds increased vaccenic acid and conjugated linoleic acid concentrations in goat milk. A bstract Oak (Quercus persica) acorn (OA) contains high levels of hydrolysable tannins that can alter the biohydrogenation (BH) of unsaturated fatty acids (FA) in the rumen. Addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to diet containing OA may reduce the inhibitory effect of oak tannins on BH of FA by rumen bacteria. Furthermore, increasing BH intermediates is more pronounced with extruding than other thermal processing of oilseeds. This study assessed the effect of OA with or without PEG in diets containing extruded soybean seed on intake, digestibility, ruminal fermentation, plasma metabolites, and milk production, composition and FA profile of lactating goats. Twenty-one multiparous lactating goats (BW = 42.7 ± 6.1 kg; DIM = 14 ± 2) were divided into three groups (7 animals/group) based on BW and milk yield. The animals assigned randomly to one of the three experimental diets- control diet (C; without OA and PEG), and diets containing 100 g/kg DM of OA without PEG (OA−PEG) or with 20 g/day PEG (OA+PEG). All diets contained 150 g/kg DM extruded soybean seed. Goats fed both OA−PEG and OA+PEG diets had greater DMI compared to the C diet (p < 0.01). Milk yield and composition were not affected by experimental diets (p > 0.05), whereas goats fed the OA−PEG diet had higher milk protein, lactose and solid not fat yield (p < 0.01). Digestibility of crude protein was lower in goats fed the OA−PEG diet than other groups (p < 0.01). Experimental diets had no effect on ruminal fluid pH and volatile FA concentrations (p > 0.05), but NH 3 –N concentration was lower in goats fed the OA−PEG diet than other groups (p < 0.01). Plasma glucose, urea, total protein, total cholesterol, triglyceride and albumin concentrations were not affected by inclusion of OA and PEG to the diet (p > 0.05). Goats fed the OA−PEG diet had higher milk vaccenic acid (trans -11 C18:1) and conjugated linoleic acid (cis- 9, trans- 11 C18:2) concentrations compared to those fed the C and OA+PEG diets (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the addition of OA (100 g/kg DM) to a diet containing extruded soybean seed not only had no adverse effects on performance, ruminal fermentation and plasma metabolites but also improved the nutritional value of goat's milk fat for human consumption. In addition, inclusion of PEG to diet containing OA decreased the beneficial effect of OA tannins on milk cis- 9, trans- 11 C18:2 and trans -11 C18:1 concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined the seasonal nutrient and secondary compound intake, in vivo diet digestibility (DD) and diet species composition of goats in different physiological states in a desert rangeland of Argentina. During the wet and the dry seasons, 24 mature female Creole goats (six non‐lactating, non‐pregnant and six lactating in each season) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Diet botanical composition, DD and dry‐matter intake (DMI) were estimated by the combined use of visual observation, microhistological analyses of faecal samples and n‐alkane technique. Browse species dominated the goats' diets (>80%) in both seasons and physiological states, with a twofold increase in the proportion of forbs during the wet season (p < 0.10). Lactating goats showed greater DMI than non‐lactating animals, and they also displayed greater intakes of some tanniferous (Mimosa ephedroides) and high‐protein (Atriplex lampa) shrubs (p < 0.10). Lactating and non‐lactating goats selected diets with adequate crude protein (CP) and fibre content but insufficient energy, although lactating goats tended to increase energy and tannin content in their diets (p < 0.20). Physiological state did not influence DD, but digestibility was greater (p < 0.10) in the wet season, attributed to the greater protein content and lower tannin content of the diet. These results have important implications for managerial interventions on traditional goat production systems in the study area aiming at enhancing goat nutrition and welfare, as well as the sustainability of rangeland resources in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of the trial were to study the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) and tannic acid (TA) on rumen fermentation, microbiota and nutrient digestion in beef cattle. Eight growing beef cattle (live weight 350 ± 25 kg) were allocated in a 2 × 2 crossover design using two levels of dietary CP [111 g/kg dry matter (DM) and 136 g/kg DM] and two levels of TA (0 and 16.9 g/kg DM) as experimental treatments. Each experimental period lasted 19 d, consisting of 14-d adaptation and 5-d sampling. The impacts of dietary CP and TA on ruminal microbiota were analysed using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. Results indicated that no interactions between dietary CP and TA were found on rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility. Increasing dietary CP level from 111 to 136 g/kg DM increased the ruminal concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) (p < 0.01) and improved the CP digestibility (p < 0.001). Adding TA at 16.9 g/kg DM inhibited rumen fermentation and decreased the digestibility of dietary CP (p < 0.001), DM (p < 0.05) and organic matter (p < 0.01). Increasing the dietary CP level or adding TA did not affect the relative abundances of the major bacteria Firmicutes and Proteobacteria at the phylum level and Prevotella_1 and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group at the genus level, even though adding TA increased the Shannon index of the ruminal bacterial community. TA was partly hydrolysed to pyrogallol, gallic acid and resorcinol in rumen fluid and the inhibitory effects of TA on rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility could have been resulted from the TA metabolites including pyrogallol, gallic acid and resorcinol as well as the protein-binding effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding tannins to the dietary protein source will cause complexation between the tannin and protein, which may increase dietary ruminal undegraded protein. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal (SM) with soybean meal treated with tannin (SMT) on the intake, partial and total nutrient digestibility, and protein dietary efficiency of young cattle fed a high-concentrate diet. Five Nellore bulls with bodyweights of 290 ± 11.2 kg were fitted with ruminal and abomasal cannulas and were used in the study. The experimental diets included 7.5% SM, with a proportion of that SM (0%, 33%, 66% or 100%) replaced with SMT. Another treatment (SMT+urea) with only 2.5% SM treated with tannins was tested. The intake of ether extract and the intake of neutral detergent fibre ash and protein were the only parameters related to feed intake that were affected by the replacement of SM with SMT. Ruminal and intestinal digestibility each showed a linear effect on crude protein, which decreased with ruminal digestibility and increased with intestinal digestibility. The intake of ruminal undegraded protein and metabolisable protein showed a positive linear correlation with the amount of SMT in the diet. SMT substitution showed no effect on methane emission. The replacement of traditional SM with SM treated with 2.5% tannins (85% condensed tannins and 15% hydrolysable tannins) for cattle that were fed high-concentrate diets showed increased amounts of metabolisable protein and decreased nitrogen loss per unit of crude protein, without changing the methane emission. Tannins provide an increase in the amount of protein used by the animal with no increase in the total amount of dietary protein. This occurs due to the capacity of tannin to bind protein through hydrogen bonds forming a tannin–protein complex, which is stable in the rumen (pH, 5.0–7.0) and resistant to microbial degradation. This approach can provide two important benefits: an increase in the amount of protein absorbed and deposited in the animal's tissue and a decrease in feed costs due to the removal of protein source ingredients, such as soybean meal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of applying lactic acid bacteria (LAB, Lactobacillus plantarum LP) (0 and 1 × 106 cfu/g fresh matter (FM)) and cellulase (0, 30, 60 and 120 U/g FM) on the ensiling characteristics of N. cadamba leaves. The experimental design was a completely randomized 2 × 4 factorial arrangement. Fermentation parameters, microbial populations, chemical compositions and in vitro digestibility of the silages were measured after 60‐day fermentation. LAB inoculation decreased the pH (p < 0.05), ammonium nitrogen (NH3‐N) proportion (p = 0.08), the concentrations of crude protein (CP, p < 0.05) and condensed tannins (CT, p = 0.07), and the microbial counts (p < 0.01) of LAB and yeasts along with increased (p < 0.01) concentrations of neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and hemicellulose. Cellulase addition increased (p < 0.01) the microbial populations and protein fractions and decreased (p < 0.01) the concentrations of acetic acid, cell wall components, total phenols (TP), soluble tannins (ST) and CT with increasing enzyme inclusions. The interaction of LAB and cellulase showed an effect (p < 0.01) on the NH3‐N proportion, microbial counts, fibre fractions and CP. No effect (p > 0.05) was found on the dry matter recovery and digestibility of the silages with LAB or cellulase application. Besides, high lactic acid concentration and true protein ratio, low pH and NH3‐N proportion, and a few spoilage organism counts were found in all silages, indicating a successful preservation. These results infer that, with some improvement, the ensiling characteristics and chemical compositions of N. cadamba leaves silage show specific responses to the addition of LAB inoculant or cellulase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of soaking dried cashew nut testa (DCNT) in distilled water on tannin removal. Distilled water was used at a 1:10 (w/v) ratio for 0, 24, and 48 h. Soaking DCNT in distilled water for 24 h reduced tannin concentration in DCNT by 26.4% (quadratic, P<0.01). The soaked and unsoaked DCNT were then used for the next experiment. A total of 24 LYD barrows (initial average BW of 82.1 kgs) were used to determine the effect of DCNT on nutrient digestibility and gut morphology in finishing pigs. The pigs were randomly allotted to 4 treatments using a randomized complete block design with 6 pigs per treatment. The treatments were: 1) corn-soybean meal (SBM) diet with no DCNT, 2) corn-SBM diet with 5% unsoaked DCNT, 3) 5% unsoaked DCNT with added fat, and 4) 5% soaked DCNT. All diets included 0.30% Cr2O3 to serve as an inert marker. The results revealed that the unsoaked DCNT diet had reduced apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) than the corn-SBM diet (P<0.05). However, pigs fed the soaked DCNT diet had greater ATTD of CP and EE compared with those on the unsoaked DCNT diet (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in gut characteristics of finishing pigs fed corn-SBM or DCNT diets. In conclusion, feeding 5% DCNT to finishing pigs reduces nutrient digestibility without affecting gut morphology. Soaking DCNT in distilled water for 24 h can reduce tannin concentration and mitigate its effects on nutrient digestibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding a condensed tannin extract (CT) on dry matter intake (DMI), growth performance, carcass traits, and NH3-N emissions of beef feedlot cattle fed high-protein barley-based finishing diets. In Exp. 1, 36 crossbred steers (346 ± 4.2 kg) were individually fed 4 diets with 20% corn dried distillers grains (DG) and increasing concentrations of a CT extract from Acacia mearnsii (black wattle) at 0%, 1.2%, 2.4%, and 3.5% of DM (9 steers per diet) for 52 d. The DMI was not affected at 1.2% and 2.4% but tended (P = 0.08, quadratic effect) to decrease at 3.5% CT extract. There was no effect (P ≥ 0.12) of increasing CT extract on ADG, but G:F tended (P = 0.09) to decrease linearly. In Exp. 2, 148 crossbred steers (457 ± 3.8 kg) were allocated to 16 pens with 4 pens per treatment in a completely randomized design and fed for 83 d. The 4 dietary treatments included 0% corn DG (0DG), 20% DG (20DG), 40% DG (40DG), and 40% DG with 2.5% CT extract (40DGCT) and contained 13.3, 15.9, 20.4, and 19.4% CP, respectively. All cattle were weighed, and blood was collected from 5 steers per pen every 3 wk. Ammonia emissions were measured in four 3-wk periods using the integrated horizontal flux technique with passive NH3 samplers from 2 pens of cattle fed 0DG and 20DG (Period 1), 40DG and 40DGCT (Period 2), 0DG and 40DG (Period 3), and 0DG and 40DGCT (Period 4). There was no effect (P ≥ 0.15) of diet on final body weight (621 ± 7.1 kg), DMI (11.9 ± 0.25 kg/d), ADG (1.98 ± 0.07 kg/d), G:F (166 ± 5.4 g/kg), and carcass traits. Plasma urea N (PUN) increased (P < 0.001) from 0DG to 40DG (113 to 170 ± 6.0 mg N/L) and was reduced (P < 0.001) by 40DGCT (146 mg N/L) compared with 40DG and tended (P = 0.09) to be reduced compared with steers fed 20DG (153 mg N/L). Ammonia-N emissions were greater from cattle fed 40DG [113.7 vs. 70.8 ± 4.57 g N/(steer•d), P = 0.003] and tended to be greater from cattle fed 20DG [51.3 vs. 26.3 ± 11.2 g N/(steer•d), P = 0.11] compared with 0DG. Cattle fed 40DGCT tended to have lower NH3-N emissions compared with cattle fed 40DG [72.7 vs. 95.1 ± 9.3 g N/(steer•d), P = 0.09 and 20.5 vs. 26.5 ± 2.64% N intake, P = 0.11]. Feeding 2.5% CT to beef feedlot cattle fed a high-protein diet had no detrimental effect on performance, reduced PUN indicating lower urinary urea N excretion, and lowered NH3-N emissions by 23%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight ruminally cannulated crossbred beef heifers (427 ± 41.2 kg, body weight) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square to determine the effects of feeding a condensed tannin (CT) extract with high protein diets containing corn dried distillers grains and solubles (DG) on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, and route of nitrogen (N) excretion. Dietary treatments included [dry matter (DM) basis]: 0 (0DG), 20 (20DG), and 40% DG (40DG), and 40% DG with 2.5% CT extract (1.33% CT) from Acacia mearnsii (40DGCT). The DG and CT extract were substituted for grain in a barley-based diet that contained 91% concentrate and 9% silage (DM basis) and was fed as a total mixed ration once daily. The crude protein concentrations of the diets were 12.9, 16.8, 20.4, and 20.5% for 0DG, 20DG, 40DG, and 40DGCT, respectively. Periods were 5 wk with 2 wk for transition to the DG level of the diets, 1 wk for adaptation to CT, and 2 wk for measurements. Feed offered and refused were measured daily. Total urine and fecal output were collected daily for 4 d consecutively. Data were analyzed using a mixed linear model with diet and period as fixed effects and square and animal within square as random effects. There was no effect (P ≥ 0.22) of CT on DM intake, but 40% DG in the diet (40DG and 40DGCT) decreased (P ≤ 0.015) DM intake compared with 20DG. As a result, nitrogen (N) intake was not different (P > 0.15) among heifers fed 20DG, 40DG, and 40DGCT (313 g N/d) and was less (P ≤ 0.001) for heifers fed 0DG (220 ± 18 g N/d). Apparent total tract N digestibility was less (P ≤ 0.001) in heifers fed 40DGCT (70.6 ± 1.07%) compared with to 0DG, 20DG, and 40DG (78.4%). There was no effect (P = 0.84) of CT (40DGCT vs. 40DG) on the total N output, however, feeding 40DGCT decreased (P ≤ 0.001) the excretion of total urinary N and urea N in urine by 17 and 21%, respectively, compared with heifers fed 40DG and was equivalent (P ≥ 0.12) to the amount excreted by heifers fed 20DG. The reduction of N digestibility reflected the protein binding effects of CT within the gastrointestinal tract and the shift in excess N excretion from labile urea N in urine to bound NDIN and ADIN in feces (P ≤ 0.001) in heifers fed 40DGCT compared with 40DG. Supplementation of CT in high protein diets fed to feedlot cattle reduced urinary N and increased the capture of N in manure to potentially lesson the loss of N as ammonia and provide opportunities for improved nutrient management of beef production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Comparative aspects of plant tannins on digestive physiology, nutrition and microbial community in sheep and goats are discussed in the context of differences due to feed intake, digestibility, utilization of nutrients and microbial community. The purpose of this review was to present an overview of the potential benefits of tannin‐containing diets for sheep and goats and specie differences in their response to tannins. It is well established that moderate level of tannins in the diet (3%–4% tannins DM) can precipitate with soluble proteins and increase protein supply to the sheep, but comparative aspects of tannin‐containing diets in sheep and goats on animal performance, digestive physiology, rumen microbial changes and potential benefits to sustainable animal production by those compounds have received little attention. In addition, developing plant‐based tannin‐containing diets for control of rumen microbiota and rumen fermentation (e.g., methane gas) would be expected to have a greater impact on the ruminant health, productivity and emission of greenhouse gasses. The positive impacts of the plant tannin compounds mainly depend on their influence on the gut microbiome diversity and ability to generate fermentation end products (short‐chain fatty acids) that have diverse biological roles. Diets which contain optimal levels of tannins have potential benefits for sustainability of small ruminant production systems. However, there is a need for an improved understanding of the utilization of tannin‐containing forages to improve their management. This implies investigations of animal responses to tannin‐containing forages or browse species and, in particular, a better understanding of the interactions that can arise between sheep and goats on digestion, DMD, rumen fermentation and microbial community changes. This knowledge could help to improve current feeding systems in terms of efficiency of feed use and environmental impacts (reduce methane gas production) and thus contribute to the development of a sustainable sheep and goat production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legumes that contain condensed tannins may have lower ruminal protein degradation than alfalfa. The present study investigated the effects of feeding birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) hay on lactational performance and N utilization and excretion. Eight multiparous Holstein cows in midlactation (150 ± 22.3 d-inmilk) were randomly assigned to 2 treatments [alfalfa hay-based total mixed ration (AHT) or birdsfoot trefoil hay-based total mixed ration (BHT)] in a crossover design with 2 experimental periods. Each experimental period lasted 17 d (14 d of adaptation and 3 d of sampling and total collection). Hays comprised approximately 50% of DM in experimental diets. There were no treatment effects on dry matter intake (DMI; 21.4 vs. 20.7 kg/d), milk yield (29.4 vs. 28.1 kg/d), milk fat concentration (3.20% vs. 3.21%), and milk protein concentration (3.20% vs. 3.16%) for AHT and BHT, respectively. In addition, dietary treatments did not affect milk yield/DMI or energy- corrected milk yield/DMI. In contrast, apparent crude protein digestion decreased in cows fed BHT compared with those fed AHT (60.7% vs. 69.1%). Concentration of milk urea-N decreased by feeding BHT compared with AHT (11.9 vs. 13.3 mg/100 mL), whereas total N excretion did not differ between AHT and BHT diets. However, cows fed BHT excreted more N in feces (194 vs. 168 g/d), whereas urinary N excretion was lower compared with cows fed AHT. The shift of N to feces resulted in a decrease in urinary N:fecal N ratio in cows fed BHT relative to those fed AHT. Overall results in the current study suggest that feeding birdsfoot trefoil in dairy diets shifts routes of N from urine to feces compared with feeding alfalfa hay, with little effect on lactational performance. Reduction in urinary N and any impact on environment may be attributed to functional effect of condensed tannins in birdsfoot trefoil hay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current understanding of the effects of condensed tannins (CTs) on productivity of mixed-feeding ruminants is largely based on simple laboratory and feeding experiments. These experiments do not allow mixed feeders such as goats to adequately employ their behavioural and physiological responses to plant secondary metabolites. In a field experiment, we investigated the effects of CTs on growth performance of goats. We hypothesized that CTs reduce blood circulatory nutrient and increase nitrogen in faeces. We divided 45 yearling females into three groups of 15 animals that were orally dosed daily with either CTs, polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG, a polymer that neutralizes dietary tannins), or water (control). We measured the average daily gains, live weights, faecal nitrogen and four blood metabolites from each goat during dry and wet seasons. Live weights increased over time in both dry ( P  < 0.001) and wet seasons ( P  <  0.001). The average daily gain was consistently greatest for animals dosed with PEG and least for those dosed with CTs. Goats dosed with CTs had the greatest faecal nitrogen and the least blood protein concentrations, while the opposite was true for PEG goats in both seasons. Blood urea and non-esterified fatty acids indicated a negative influence of CTs on energy and protein metabolism. We concluded that CTs limit growth and PEG mitigates the negative effects of CTs on growth performance of free-ranging mixed feeding ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of water hyacinth (WH) as a possible substitution of alfalfa hay (AH) in diets of beef cattle on in vitro methane production, gas kinetics and chemical composition. AH in the diets was substituted by WH at 0% (T1, as a control), 25% (T2), 50% (T3), 75% (T4) and 100% (T5). Methane, CO2 and gas production parameters were recorded after 24 and 48h of incubation. NDF, condensed tannins and total phenolic compounds increased when AH was substituted. Likewise, the net gas production decreased linearly when AH was substituted. However, gas production rate among treatments were similar. Methane and CO2 production decreased linearly with inclusion of WH. These results indicate that WH arises as a promising alternative for mitigating methane production in ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical compounds in seeds exert negative and even lethal effects on seed-consuming animals. Tannin-degrading bacteria in the guts of small mammals have been associated with the ability to digest seeds high in tannins. At the population level, it is not known if tannins influence rodent species differently according to the composition of their gut microbiota. Here, we test the hypothesis that sympatric tree species with different tannins exert contrasting effects on population fluctuations of seed-eating rodents. We collected a 10-year dataset of seed crops and rodent population sizes and sequenced 16S rRNA of gut microbes. The abundance of Apodemus peninsulae was not correlated with seed crop of either high-tannin Quercus mongolica or low-tannin Corylus mandshurica, but positively correlated with their total seed crops. Abundance of Tamias sibiricus was negatively correlated with seed crop of Q. mongolica but positively correlated with C. mandshurica. Body masses of A. peninsulae and T. sibiricus decreased when given high-tannin food; however, only the survival of T. sibiricus was reduced. The abundance of microbial genus Lactobacillus exhibiting potential tannin-degrading activity was significantly higher in A. peninsulae than in T. sibiricus. Our results suggest that masting tree species with different tannin concentrations may differentially influence population fluctuations of seed predators hosting different gut microbial communities. Although the conclusion is based on just correlational analysis of a short time-series, seeds with different chemical composition may influence rodent populations differently. Future work should examine these questions further to understand the complex interactions among seeds, gut microbes, and animal populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prediction equations for digestible energy (DE) of sorghum grains fed to pigs have been generated based on chemical composition in our study. However, an in vitro method mimicking gastrointestinal digestion of pigs is more applicable to predict DE of feed ingredients in practice. This study evaluated in vitro DE (IVDE) and digestibility of gross energy (GE) in 28 samples of sorghum grain with a wide range in nutrient profiles using a 3-step computer-controlled simulated digestion system (CCSDS) and generated prediction equations based on IVDE and in vitro GE disappearance (IVGED) for previously determined DE and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of GE. The IVDE (3305–4068 kcal/kg), IVDE/GE (0.72–0.91), IVGED (0.72–0.90), and in vitro dry matter (DM) disappearance (0.73–0.89; IVDMD) were quite variable and had a high negative correlation with tannin content in sorghum grain (r ≤ −0.90, P  < 0.01). The IVDE or IVDE/GE was highly positively correlated with determined DE or DE/GE ( r  = 0.97 or 0.96, both P  < 0.01), and linear relationship between DE and IVDE (kcal/kg of DM) or between DE/GE and IVDE/GE was observed in 28 sorghum cultivars: DE = 0.62 × IVDE + 1462 ( R 2  = 0.93, RMSE  = 40.9 kcal/kg, P  < 0.001), or DE/GE = 0.626 × IVDE/GE + 0.331 ( R 2  = 0.92, RMSE = 0.01, P  < 0.001). Differences of less than 50 kcal/kg or 0.02 were observed in 23 or 24 of the 28 samples between determined and predicted DE or DE/GE. Similarly, the positive relationship between ATTD of GE or DM and IVGED or IVDMD was high ( r  = 0.95 and 0.93, respectively, both P  < 0.01), and the prediction equations based on in vitro values were 0.595 × IVGED + 0.351 ( R 2  = 0.90, RMSE = 0.01, P  < 0.001) for ATTD of GE and 0.644 × IVDMD + 0.327 ( R 2  = 0.87, RMSE = 0.01, P  < 0.001) for ATTD of DM. Differences between determined and predicted values were smaller than 0.02 in 25 or 24 out of the 28 samples for ATTD of GE or DM. In conclusion, tannin negatively affects the in vitro enzyme digestion of energy content in sorghum grain. The 3-step enzymatic method using CCSDS could be a promising in vitro digestibility technique to predict DE and digestibility of GE in sorghum gain for pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of dietary replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with graded levels of faba bean (FB) seeds with high or low tannin content (HT or LT) on the gastrointestinal function and growth performance of turkeys at 13–18 weeks of age. Hybrid Converter turkeys were distributed into 7 treatments corresponding to 7 different finisher diets: a control wheat-soybean meal-based (FB 0 ) diet and experimental diets where SBM was partially replaced with HT or LT seeds at 100, 200 and 300 g/kg. Each treatment comprised 210 turkeys, with seven replicate pens and 30 birds per pen. The LT treatment decreased jejunal crypt depth ( vs . FB 0 ; P  = 0.049) and the experimental factors had no significant effect on the analysed caecal histological parameters. In comparison with the FB 0 diet, diets containing HT and LT FB contributed to an increase in the total bacterial counts ( P  = 0.001 and P  = 0.033) and Bacteria domain ( P  = 0.001 and P  = 0.060), and a decrease in the counts of Bacteroides ( P  = 0.002 and P  = 0.013). Diets containing LT FB reduced the abundance of Salmonella bacteria, relative to the FB 0 diet ( P  = 0.011) and diets with HT FB ( P  = 0.023). The LT treatment decreased the counts of total bacteria and Bacteria domain ( P  = 0.005), in comparison with the HT treatment. The highest ileal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations were observed in response to the LT 200 diet. LT diets stimulated increased SCFA production in the caeca, relative to the FB 0 diet ( P  = 0.022), and the opposite effect was noted when HT and SBM dietary treatments were compared. In comparison with HT diets, LT diets led to a desirable increase in the concentrations of all major fatty acids (acetic, propionic and butyric) in the caecal contents. It can be concluded that FB seeds enhanced fermentation processes in the gastrointestinal tract of turkeys. In comparison with HT FB, LT seeds improved selected parameters of intestinal function, including a decrease in the counts of Salmonella bacteria ( P  = 0.023), increased SCFA production (including butyrate; P  = 0.001), and a decrease in the pH of intestinal digesta ( P  = 0.105). In conclusion, both LT and HT FB seeds, the latter containing up to 7.1 g/kg tannins, can be included in finisher turkey diets at up to 300 g/kg as a safe and effective substitute for SBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 84 faba bean samples, 11 of color-flowered and 5 of white-flowered cultivars, were used to investigate variations in nutritional and antinutritional components among faba beans. There were no effects of flower color, but significant effects ( P  < 0.05) of cultivar within flower color were observed for starch, crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber. The color-flowered cultivars had a greater content of condensed tannins (CT) and the white-flowered cultivars a greater content of vicine and convicine. Within the color-flowered cultivars, Alexia had the greatest (7.68 g/kg DM) and Julia the smallest (6.05 g/kg DM) CT content. The enzymatic in vitro digestibility of DM, OM, CP, and calculated standardized ileal digestibility of CP was greater ( P  < 0.05) in white-flowered than color-flowered cultivars. However, on a yield per hectare basis, color-flowered cultivars yielded more ( P  < 0.05) standardized ileal digestible (SID) CP and starch than white-flowered cultivars. Based on these results, 3 cultivars were selected for a growth study with weaner pigs. Gloria (a white-flowered cultivar) and Fuego and Julia (both color-flowered) were selected for deviating content of SID CP, where Julia had more SID CP than Fuego. The control diet contained soybean meal and potato protein as the main protein sources, whereas the experimental diets contained 10 and 20% Julia or Fuego (Julia10, Julia20, Fuego10, Fuego20) and 20% Gloria (Gloria), with a total of 6 experimental diets. The diets were fed to 300 pigs in a randomized complete block design with 5 groups of pigs over time (blocks), with each block comprising 6 pens of 10 piglets. The pigs were weaned at 5 weeks of age and received the experimental diets ad libitum for 27 days, starting immediately after weaning. For the total experimental period, pigs fed Julia10 and Julia20 had the greatest average daily body weight gain ( P  < 0.05) and pigs fed the control and Fuego20 had the smallest. Average daily feed intake was greater ( P  < 0.05) in pigs fed Julia10 and smaller in pigs fed Fuego20 ( P  < 0.05) than in pigs fed the other diets. Feed efficiency was greatest in pigs fed Julia20 and smallest in pigs fed the control. In conclusion, faba bean is a viable protein source in well-balanced diets to weaner pigs, with cultivar rather than flower color determining the nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental model for postweaning diarrhea with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 (ETEC F4) was set up in piglets, and the efficacy of 1% chestnut-tannin extract in preventing diarrhea was subsequently assessed. In a first trial (infection model), 32 Swiss Large White piglets (age: 24 days; average BW: 7.8 ± 0.8 kg) were randomly assigned to two experimental groups (infected [INF], noninfected [NINF]). In a subsequent trial, 72 Swiss Large White piglets (age: 26 days; average BW: 7.4 ± 1.5 kg) were blocked by BW and assigned within block to four experimental groups: NINF-CO: not infected and fed a standard control starter diet (CO); INF-CO: infected and fed the CO diet; NINF-TA: not infected and fed the CO diet supplemented with 1% chestnut extract containing 54% of hydrolysable tannins (TA); and INF-TA: infected and fed the TA diet. Both diets (TA and CO) were formulated to be isocaloric and isoproteic and to meet or surpass the nutritional requirements. In both trials, four days after weaning, piglets assigned to the INF group received an oral suspension of ETEC F4. Fecal score, ETEC shedding in feces (only in trial 2), and growth performance traits were measured for the following 14 days post infection. In both trials, more than 50% of the INF piglets developed diarrhea within six days post infection. Tannins reduced (P < 0.05) the average fecal score, the percentage of piglets in diarrhea, and the duration of diarrhea, whereas feed intake and the average daily gain were unaffected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feed and water supplementation with powdered hydrolyzable tannins from chestnut represents a valuable alternative strategy to antibiotics in animal nutrition. In this study, we evaluated the effects and safety of a water-soluble form of chestnut tannin (WST) in an in vitro model of chicken small intestinal epithelial cells (CSIEC). A chicken cell culture was established, and WST in concentrations of 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2% were tested for cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, metabolic activity, production of reactive oxygen species, intracellular antioxidative potential, genotoxicity, and influence on the epithelia cell cycle. The tested concentrations showed a significant (P < 0.05) greater proliferative effect on CSIEC than the control medium (maximal proliferation at 0.1% WST as determined by optical density measurements). The 0.2% concentration of WST was cytotoxic, causing significantly higher (P < 0.05) nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide production but with no short-term genotoxicity. Although increasing the concentration caused a decline in the metabolism of challenged cells (the lowest at 0.1% WST), metabolic activity remained higher than that in control cells. The antioxidant potential was 75% better and significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the 0.1% WST cultured cells compared to control. In conclusion, the cultured CSIEC are useful tools in basic and clinical research for the study of intestinal physiology, as they retain physiological and biochemical properties and epithelial morphology close to the original tissue and, in many ways, reflect the in vivo state. Our results indicate that WST exert a beneficial effect on intestinal epithelia, since they: i) stimulate proliferation of enterocytes; ii) increase antioxidative potential; iii) have no genotoxic effect; and iv) do not affect cellular metabolism. Our results reinforce the importance of WST as promising candidates for further evaluation and use in commercial broiler farm production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fifteen 5‐month‐old Red Sokoto buck‐kids, (6.6 ± 0.71 kg body weight (BW)) randomly distributed into three groups of five animals per group, were used to study the effects of supplementary concentrate partially replaced with Piliostigma thonningii (PT) foliage on the growth performance, economic benefit and blood profile in a completely randomized design using analysis of variance. The goats in group 1 received 100% supplementary concentrates (PT0), groups 2 and 3 received 25% (PT25) and 50% (PT50), respectively, of concentrate replaced with an equal amount (dry matter basis) of Piliostigma foliage. The goats were fed a basal diet of threshed sorghum top (TST). Intake of concentrate, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, total feeding cost and cost/kg BW were greater (P < 0.05) for PT0 than for PT25 and PT50. Consumption of P. thonningii foliage was greater (P < 0.05) for PT50 relative to PT25. Tannin consumption of the treatment diets were greater (P < 0.05) than that of the control concentrate diet. Serum urea N reduced (P < 0.05) with increasing level of concentrate replacement, while serum glucose was higher (P < 0.05) in PT0 than in PT50. However, means of all blood measurements were within normal ranges for goats. Net benefit showed this rank order: PT0 < PT50 < PT25 (all P < 0.05). Both differential and relative benefits were higher (P < 0.05) for PT25 than for PT50. P. thonningii foliage can replace 50% of supplemental concentrate without impairing feed intake, growth performance and health of buck‐kids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary tannins can affect protein digestion and absorption, be toxic, and influence food selection by being astringent and bitter tasting. Animals that usually ingest tannins may regularly secrete tannin‐binding salivary proteins (TBSPs) to counteract the negative effects of tannins or TBSPs production can be induced by a tannin‐rich diet. In the wild, many primates regularly eat a diet that contains tannin‐rich leaves and unripe fruit and it has been speculated that they have the physiological ability to cope with dietary tannins; however, details of their strategy remains unclear. Our research details the salivary protein composition of wild and zoo‐living black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) feeding on natural versus manufactured low‐tannin diets, and examines differences in TBSPs, mainly proline‐rich proteins (PRPs), to determine whether production of these proteins is dependent on the tannin content of their food. We measured the pH, flow rate, and concentration of total protein and trichloroacetic acid soluble proteins (an index of PRPs) in saliva. Howler monkeys produced slightly alkaline saliva that may aid in the binding interaction between tannin and salivary proteins. We used gel electrophoresis to describe the salivary protein profile and this analysis along with a tannin‐binding assay allowed us to detect several TBSPs in all individuals. We found no differences in the characteristics of saliva between wild and zoo‐living monkeys. Our results suggest that black howler monkeys always secrete TBSPs even when fed on foods low in tannins. This strategy of constantly using this salivary anti‐tannin defense enables them to obtain nutrients from plants that sometimes contain high levels of tannins and may help immediately to overcome the astringent sensation of their food allowing howler monkeys to eat tanniferous plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, general characteristics of sainfoin and researches on the usability in animal feeding. Sainfoin is a perennial leguminous plant. It is a perennial feed crop with a total area of 1,914,391 hectares in Turkey. Sainfoin grows in pH 7-8 on calcareous soils on the northern slopes of valleys, plains and mountains up to 6 thousand meters in height. The content of nitrogen in the branches and leaves of the sainfoin plant is higher than in the beginning of flowering. The sainfoin contains condensed tannin. The condensed tannin removes protein degradation. Grazing ruminants may encounter many metabolic diseases related to feeding. The minimum plant condensed tannin concentration for this effect should be greater than 5 g / kg (CT) in dry matter. In the sheep study, parasitic infestation of the abomasum and small intestine causes large protein losses in sheep. İn a study reported that the presence of tannin in sheep fed had no effect on milk yield but increased the yield of tannin to 5.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tannic acid (TA) is one of the important plant secondary metabolites existed in the Brandt's vole's daily food. Its anti-nutritional and anti-oxidant effects have been previously reported. However, investigations about the microbial communities and alterations of gut microbiota in response to dietary TA have not been documented in Brandt's voles. To characterize the effects of dietary TA on the abundance and diversity of caecal microbes, 18 adult Brandt's voles were randomly assigned to 3 groups, where they were continuously fed with commercial rodent diet containing 0%, 3%, and 6% (w/w) TA for three weeks. The luminal contents of the caeca were collected for DNA extraction and high throughput sequencing was applied using an Illumina MiSeq. Significant differences in alpha diversity indices were detected between male and female voles. Female voles were significantly higher in Chao1, observed species, and the Shannon and Simpson indices than the males. The composition of bacterial community in the Brandt's voles was significantly affected by the administration of dietary TA. Gender, as well as the interaction between gender and TA played important roles in determining the bacterial structure. Female voles were observed to be more vulnerable than the males to the influence of dietary TA. This study was the first non-culture based microbiota analysis that revealed the caecal microbiota compositions in Brandt's voles. Our results provided preliminary data about sex-associated differences in the response of the caecal microbiota to dietary TA in Brandt's voles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five promising tanniferous tree leaves viz. Acacia nilotica, Eugenia jambolana, Ficus religiosa, L. leucocephala and Psidium guajava were selected for in vitro antioxidant and anticoccidial properties against avian Eimeria species. Condensed tannins (CT) extracts of above tree leaves were prepared in 70 % acetone and then freeze dried in lyophilizer. Antioxidant property of lyophilized acetone extract of different CT sources was evaluated by in-vitro methods. The 2, 2-diphenyl-1- picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity was significantly higher in P. guajava as compared to other CT sources. However, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging activity was significantly (P<0.05) lower in L. leucocephala compared to other CT sources. The CT extract of A. nilotica, E. jambolana, F. religiosa and P. guajava showed significantly (P<0.05) higher reducing power than that of L. leucocephala. Sporulation inhibition (%) of Eimeria spp. was significantly (P<0.05) higher in E. jambolana and P. guajava, followed by A. nilotica, L. leucocephla and least in F. religiosa, while, E. jambolana and P. guajava showed maximum sporulation inhibition activity @ 4 mg/ml. It was concluded that CT extracts of A. nilotica, E. jambolana, F. religiosa, L. leucocephala and P. guajava leaves possess the antioxidant and anti-coccidian property. It may be eco-friendly socioeconomic alternative, natural antioxidant, anti-coccidian agent and/ or natural feed additive for organic meat production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of browse species tannins (using polyethylene glycol, PEG 6000) on in vitro gas production (GP), methane (CH 4 ), ammonia (NH 3 ), volatile fatty acids (VFA) and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) were studied. Approximately 0.5 g of air-dried A . etbaica , C . farinosa , C . tomentosa , D . angustifolia , D . cinerea , E . racemosa , M . angolensis , M . senegalensis , R . natalensis and S . singueana leaves were used as substrates in an automated in vitro system. Proanthocyanidin (PA) contents were quantified using the modified HCl-butanol method and the PA composition analysed by ultra performance liquid chromatography using a diode array detector coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD-ESI–MS/MS). Substrates were inoculated for 72 h in buffered rumen fluid (2:1, v/v), pooled from three goats fed a grass silage and concentrate diet, on three separate occasions. Each substrate was incubated in triplicate with or without inclusion of PEG 6000 and GP measured. During incubation, head space gas samples were taken at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 30, 48, 54, and 72 h and analysed for CH 4 . Volatile fatty acids, NH 3 and IVOMD were determined after 72 h of incubation. Data from three runs were averaged for analysis. Addition of PEG increased (P < 0.0001) GP, CH 4 , NH 3 and total VFA indicating that PA were mainly involved in reducing methanogenesis but also digestibility. Prodelphinidins were found to be the major PA affecting fermentation. Also the contribution of quercetin, myricetin and kaempferol derivatives in CH 4 reduction were evident. Changes in the molar proportions of VFA with PEG addition indicated that PA affected fermentation pathways. The absence of PEG effect on IVOMD was due to artefacts from the tannin-PEG complexes interfering with the incubation residue measurement. Overall, the effect of tannin-containing browse on in vitro fermentation characteristics was mainly due to PA with the possible minor effects of other phenolic and non-phenolic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report describes bonobo ( Pan paniscus, Hominidae) behavioral flexibility and inter-community differences with high tannin level fruit processing. In fruiting plants, tannin should discourage certain seed dispersers (direct deterrence hypothesis) such as primates. Based on data deriving from five study sites; LuiKotale, Lomako, Wamba, Malebo and Manzano, we compare consumption and dispersal of fruit species rich in tannins: Parinari and Musanga pulp was chewed across all communities probably for saliva tannin neutralisation. However, consumption of the fruits of Canarium schweinfurthii was observed in few communities only with differences in the food process: While bonobos of Wamba, Lomako and Manzano crunched and swallowed the pulp, bonobos of LuiKotale ingested entire fruits, extracted intact fruits from feces, and re-ingested their pulp, spitting the seed after a retention time of 24 h in the digestive tract ( i.e. endozoochory). We discuss potential functions of this peculiar feeding technique, likely to be a cultural behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legumes with excessive condensed tannins may become unpalatable to ruminants; however, body condition may affect feed intake. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of goats with different initial bodies condition scores fed pellets composed of pure alfalfa, sericea lespedeza, and this with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for 35 days. Goats had compensatory gain, once no difference ( P > 0.05) among body scores was obtained in final body weight. Goats in low body scores had greater ( P ≤ 0.05) average daily gain. About feed intake, no differences among legume diets were found in the high diet group. In most of the variables, animals in the high group kept greater their body measures, as well as legumes could be similar ( P > 0.05), despite of SL quality. Pellets made from sericea and plus PEG decreased ( P ≤ 0.05) gases productions. Goats in low body conditions have compensatory gain when fed either sericea or plus PEG, both viable substitutes for alfalfa. Body measurements are a tool to predict body weight, in spite of moderate correlations. Pellets made from sericea can decrease feed energy loss via CH 4 emissions and provide an alternative N pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to investigate the ability of animal feed-grade sodium bisulfate (SBS) and a mixture of sodium bisulfate/tannin to inhibit the growth of Salmonella using an anerobic in vitro mixed cecal culture to mimic the conditions within the chicken cecum. An initial inoculum of Salmonella Typhimurium was introduced to an anerobic dilution solution containing 1/3000 diluted cecal bacteria and solids consisting of ground chicken feed and different percentages of solid SBS or SBS/tannin, and surviving organisms were enumerated. Two different experimental designs were employed. In the "unadapted" treatment, the S. Typhimurium was added at the beginning of the culture incubation along with cecal bacteria and chicken feed/SBS or chicken feed/SBS/tannin. In the "adapted" treatment, S. Typhimurium was added after a 24 hour pre-incubation of the cecal bacteria with the chicken feed/SBS or chicken feed/SBS/tannin. Adding SBS resulted in reduction of pH in the cultures which paralleled with the reduction of S. Typhimurium. The SBS alone was found to be inhibitory to S. Typhimurium in the adapted treatment at all concentrations tested (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75%), and the degree of inhibition was concentration-dependent. Salmonella Typhimurium was completely killed in the adapted culture with 0.5% SBS after 24 and 48 h. The SBS/tannin mixture was less inhibitory than SBS alone at the same concentrations in side-by-side comparisons. Testing at a 0.5% SBS concentration, chicken age had little or no effect on log reduction of S. Typhimurium relative to age-matched control cultures without SBS, but age did affect the absolute number of S. Typhimurium surviving, with the greatest decreases occurring at 2 and 4 weeks of age (approx. 10³ S. Typhimurium surviving) compared to 6 weeks of age (approx. 105 Salmonella surviving). Microbiome analysis with an Illumina MiSeq platform was conducted to investigate bacterial compositional changes related to the addition of SBS. The relative abundance of Firmicutes (at the phylum level) was decreased, and genera Lactobacillus and Faecalibacterium were increased when SBS was added to the anaerobic mixed culture containing either fecal or cecal material. The antimicrobial action of feed-grade SBS may represent a potential pre-harvest control measure for Salmonella in poultry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the capacity of quebracho tannin extract (QTE) to modulate the fatty acid (FA) profile in the milk fat of cows. Fifty Holstein cows yielding 33.2 ± 8.2 kg/d of milk were divided into 2 groups. The cows were fed a basal diet with a forage-concentrate ratio of 66:34 on a dry matter (DM) basis. Diets tested were control (CON, basal diet without QTE) and basal diet plus 15 or 30 g of QTE/kg of DM (QTE15 and QTE30, respectively). Two treatments could be tested simultaneously and were arranged along 6 periods. The milk FA profile was characterized by increments in the proportion of linoleic (LA) and α-linolenic acid (α-LNA) (QTE15 = 10 and 6.1%; QTE30 = 28 and 25%, respectively) compared to CON, which might indicate reduced ruminal biohydrogenation (BH) of both dietary LA and α-LNA. Vaccenic acid (VA) in the milk fat was reduced (QTE15 8.9% and QTE30 12%) compared to CON, which may be linked to inhibited BH of LA and α-LNA. Rumenic acid (RA), a conjugated LA (cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid) and an important human health promoter, was unfortunately decreased (QTE15 8.3% and QTE30 16%) in the milk compared with CON, probably because of inhibited ruminal BH of LA. However, reduced RA in the milk was probably due to reduced availability of VA produced in the rumen and the consequently low VA available to be desaturated to RA in the mammary gland by Δ9-desaturase. The proportions of total polyunsaturated FA were increased with QTE15 and QTE30 by 4.7 and 15% compared to CON, respectively, and the long-chain FA proportions were also increased (QTE15 2.0% and QTE30 8.2%). Moreover, myristic and palmitic acid were reduced by QTE30 (9.6 and 3.3%, respectively) compared to CON, which also contributed to increasing the nutritional quality of milk because they are recognized to increase high-density lipoprotein in humans. Branched-chain FA in milk was reduced with QTE treatments, which indicates inhibited ruminal BH and microbial activity. In general, our findings suggest that dietary QTE have the potential to modulate FA profile of milk fat, and this effect is dosage dependent. Because QTE influenced the FA profile of milk fat both positively and negatively, further research is needed before concluding that QTE may improve the nutritional quality of cow milk fat in human diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of condensed tannins on N dynamics in ruminants have been a topic of research for some time, but much less work has focused on their impacts on other nutrients in manure. A 4 ± 4 Latin square trial was used to determine if intake of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata; SL; a condensed tannin source), at 0, 10, 20, or 40% of the diet (as-fed basis), would affect concentrations of nutrients in manure and patterns of total excretion when offered with alfalfa (Medicago sativa; ALF) to sheep. With SL additions, average daily manure production increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01), from 40 to 50% of the diet mass. The concentrations of total C, total N, soluble P, total and soluble Na, total and soluble S, total and soluble Mn, and total and soluble B in feces increased (P ≤ 0.05) while soluble N, total Ca, total and soluble Mg, soluble Zn, total and soluble Fe, total and soluble Cu decreased (P ≤ 0.02). Total P, total and soluble K, soluble Ca, and total Zn were less affected (P > 0.05). Comparing diets containing 0 to 40% SL, average daily outputs of total C, total N, soluble P, soluble K, total and soluble Na, and total Mn increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01) by 42.0, 71.2, 93.3, 45.2, 111, 148, and 52.4 percentage points, respectively. Total K, total and soluble S, soluble Mn, and total and soluble B increased quadratically (P ≤ 0.02) by 26.1, 52.3, 26.7, 147, 100, and 19.5 percentage points, respectively. Conversely, outputs of soluble Zn and total Fe decreased linearly (P ≤ 0.01), by -51.5 and -24.8 percentage points, while total Ca, total and soluble Mg, soluble Fe, and soluble Cu decreased quadratically (P ≤ 0.05) by -15.7, -12.3, -40.0, -89.9, and -60.3 percentage points, respectively. Outputs of soluble N, total P, soluble Ca, total Zn, and total Cu remained unchanged (P ≥ 0.14). Ratios of manure outputs to feed inputs for C, N, K, and B increased (P ≤ 0.02) but those for P and Mg were unchanged (P ≥ 0.10). Ratios of soluble to total manure outputs (S:O) increased (P ≤ 0.01) for P, Ca, Na, Mn; decreased (P ≤ 0.05) for N, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu, and B; and were unaffected by treatment (P ≤ 0.16) for K. Decreasing S:O ratios are consistent with the formation of complexes that adsorb these nutrients to insoluble fiber fractions of manure and could thus affect mineralization rates. This study suggests that dietary tannins, found in forages like SL, can alter the concentrations, total excretion rates and throughput efficiency of nutrients in manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the effects of tannins from Flemingia macrophylla ( CIAT 17403) and Calliandra calothyrsus (San Ramón CIAT 22310 and Patulul CIAT 22316) on in vitro ruminal and post-ruminal dry matter and apparent protein degradation. For each tannin source (legumes), different dosages of polyethylene glycol ( PEG) (8000 Da) in McDougall buffer were added to achieve ratios of 0:3, 1:3, 2:3 and 3:3 PEG:condensed tannin ( CT). Ruminal fluid mixed with McDougall buffer (1:4) was added to tubes containing only legume foliage (control) or PEG-treated legume foliage. For both Calliandra varieties, a higher ruminal dry matter degradation was observed at a PEG: CT ratio of 3:3. For F. macrophylla, no differences were found between 2:3 and 3:3 ratios (p > 0.05), indicating that a PEG: CT ratio of 2:3 might be enough to bind tannins. Increasing PEG: CT ratios increased apparent ruminal degraded protein and ammonia concentration (p < 0.0001) differing among species (species × ratio: p < 0.0001). The degradation of bypass crude protein ( dBCP) was influenced by both legume type and PEG: CT ratio (p < 0.0001). For Patulul, as PEG: CT ratio increased, dBCP increased, but after tannin ratio of 2:3, there was not a significant increase, and for San Ramón, dBCP degradation was higher as PEG: CT ratio increased up to 2:3. For Flemingia, dBCP was higher than PEG: CT ratio of 0:3 but not different among 1:3, 2:3 or 3:3. Low concentration of CT (116 mg/g DM) increased the proportion of protein digested in the abomasum, but higher levels of CT (252 mg/g) clearly reduced the proportion of digested CP. For Flemingia, PEG: CT ratio of 2:3 is enough to inactivate tannins, while PEG: CT ratio of 3:3 was needed for Calliandra and consequently increased ruminal degradation of dry mater (rd DM), and crude protein (rd CP), total degradation of dry matter (td DM), crude protein (td CP) and ammonia levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation agriculture of hot climates suffers from rapid soil organic carbon (C) turnover, high nitrogen (N) leaching and gaseous losses. In this context, we explored the possibility of supplementing ruminants with activated charcoal ( AC) and condensed tannins ( CT) to increase faecal concentration of long-lived C and slowly decomposable N. For this purpose, we fed AC and quebracho tannin extract ( QTE, source of CT) to goats and determined nutrient digestibility, digesta passage and composition of faeces. The feeding trial comprised three periods, with 24 male goats assigned to five treatments and a control. On dry matter ( DM) basis, the basal diet (control) consisted of 50% hay, 46.5% crushed maize and 3.5% soya bean meal. Treatment diets contained (on DM basis) 2% and 4% QTE ( QTE2, QTE4), 1.5% and 3.0% AC ( AC1.5, AC3.0) and a mixture of 2% QTE plus 1.5% AC ( QTEAC). Samples of feed, refusals and faeces were analysed for chemical constituents; digesta passage was computed with a one-compartment Gamma-2 model from pulse-dose application of ytterbium-mordanted fibre and quantitative collection of faeces during 7 days. Compared to the control, organic matter and N digestibility were reduced with QTE2 and QTE4 (p ≤ 0.001), that of neutral and acid detergent fibre ( NDFom, ADFom) decreased with QTE4, QTEAC and both AC treatments (p ≤ 0.001). Ruminal particle passage ranged from 0.051 h−1 ( QTEAC) to 0.056 h−1 (control; p > 0.05). Apart from the correlation between total tract mean retention time and faecal C/N ratio ( r = −0.35), passage parameters did not affect faeces quality. While faecal N concentration was not altered by both additives, AC enhanced faecal NDFom, ADFom and C concentrations (p ≤ 0.001). Whereas feeding up to 3% AC might slow down the decomposition of manure in the field without negatively affecting the digestive physiology of goats, including QTE seems not advantageous from a physiological and nutrient recycling perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Dietary inclusion of tannin-rich leguminous leaf meals beyond threshold levels can impose toxicity and compromise welfare of pigs. The objective of the study was to determine the response of metabolites, carcass characteristics and internal organs of finishing pigs to Acacia tortilis leaf meal inclusion levels. Thirty Large White × Landrace pigs (61.6 ± 1.23 kg bodyweight) were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments, to give five replicates per treatment. The treatments contained 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 g/kg of A. tortilis leaf meal and were rendered iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous. An increase in A. tortilis inclusion was related to an initial increase and then a decrease in feed intake (P < 0.05), weight gain (P < 0.001) and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Serum concentrations of iron and activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatases increased quadratically (P < 0.001) as A. tortilis leaf meal increased. There was a significant linear increase in alanine aminotransferase activity with leaf meal incremental level. Hepatosomatic index, scaled kidney weight and scaled heart weight increased linearly (P < 0.001) as A. tortilis increased. There was a quadratic increase in the relative weight of lungs (P < 0.001) as leaf meal increased. Although quadratic decreases (P < 0.01) in cold-dressed mass and dressing percentage were observed with incremental levels of A. tortilis leaf meal, there was a linear decrease (P < 0.05) in backfat thickness. It was concluded that serum biochemistry, internal organs and carcass characteristics respond differently to increases in A. tortilis inclusion. The A. tortilis leaf meal can be supplemented in finishing pig diets at low levels before feed efficiency and carcass characteristics are negatively affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum is the second cereal used in pigs' diets in Brazil, which has a lower cost than corn, thus this experiment aimed to study the effects of high-moisture sorghum silage grain with high- and low-tannin contents on silage quality and piglets' performance. A total of seventytwo weaned piglets were allocated into randomized blocks with six replicates and four treatments, based on diets with dry corn grain (DCG); dry sorghum grain with low-tannin (LTSG), high-moisture sorghum grain silage with low-(LTSS) and high-tannin (HTSS). The ensiling process decreased total and condensed tannin contents to 31% and 98% for LTSS and, to 80% and 93% for HTSS, respectively. No treatment effects observed on average daily feed intake and average daily weight gain. The feed:gain ratio of piglets fed LTSS was greater than piglets fed LTSG. At total period, piglets fed HTSS showed a similar feed:gain ratio than piglets fed DCG or LTSG, although it was worse than animals fed LTSS. The LTSS and HTSS can replace corn or sorghum dry grains in diets of weanling pigs with no adverse effects on growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tannic acid (TA) and pistachio by-product tannin extract (PBE) on N utilization and efficiency of microbial nitrogen synthesis (EMNS) in Saanen dairy goats. The experimental design was a change over design with three treatments and three periods using six mid lactation multiparous dairy goats. Tannic acid solution and PBE were added to fresh alfalfa at ensiling to get the final concentration of about 1% tannin as dry matter (DM) basis. Dietary treatments were as follows: 1) untreated alfalfa silage (AS), 2) AS treated with TA (AS+TA) and 3) AS treated with PBE (AS+PBE). Intake of DM, organic matter (OM) and N and also milk yield and composition (as percent or as g/d) were not affected by tannin additions. A considerable shift occurred in the pattern of N excretion in goats fed PBE diet compared to control silage diet. Urinary N losses had a tendency (P<0.10) to lower (17.4 vs. 19.2 g/d) and fecal N losses was higher for goats fed AS + PBE compared with those fed the AS silage diet (14.6 vs. 12.6 g/d). As a proportion of N intake or as g N loss per d, retained N was higher (P<0.05) in goats fed AS + PBE compared to those fed the control diet. Microbial nitrogen synthesis (MN) was not affected by tannin additions. However, a trend (P<0.10) for less efficiency of microbial nitrogen synthesis (EMN) was observed in tannin fed goats compared to those fed the control diet. Although, tannins added to AS may exert some beneficial effects on N utilization and also environmental N outputs, they may interfere with rumen fermentation lead to decrease in EMN in goats especially those fed with PBE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the experiment was to assess the effect of condensed tannins ( CT) on feed intake, dry matter digestibility, nitrogen balance, supply of microbial protein to the small intestine and energy utilization in cattle fed a basal ration of Pennisetum purpureum grass. Five heifers ( Bos taurus × Bos indicus) with an average live weight of 295 ± 19 kg were allotted to five treatments consisting of increasing levels of CT (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4% CT/kg DM) in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Dry matter intake ( DMI) was similar (p > 0.05) between treatments containing 0, 1, 2 and 3% of CT/kg DM and it was reduced (p < 0.05) to 4% CT (5.71 kg DM/day) with respect to that observed with 0% CT (6.65 kg DM/day). Nitrogen balance, purine derivatives excretion in urine, microbial protein synthesis and efficiency of synthesis of microbial nitrogen in the rumen were not affected (p ≥ 0.05) by the increase in the levels of condensed tannins in the ration. Energy loss as CH4 was on average 2.7% of the gross energy consumed daily. Metabolizable energy intake was 49.06 MJ/day in cattle fed low-quality tropical grass with a DMI of 6.27 kg/day. It is concluded that concentrations of CT between 2 and 3% of DM of ration reduced energy loss as CH4 by 31.3% and 47.6%, respectively, without affecting intakes of dry and organic matter; however, digestibilities of dry and organic matter are negatively affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary Quebracho tannin extract (QTE) on feed intake, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), excretion of urinary purine derivatives (PD) and milk composition and yield in dairy cows. Fifty Holstein cows were divided into two groups. To reach a similar performance of both groups, cows were divided according to their milk yield, body weight, days in milk and number of lactations at the start of the experiment averaging 33.2 ± 8.2 kg/d, 637 ± 58 kg, 114 ± 73 d and 2.3 ± 1.6 lactations, respectively. The cows were fed a basal diet as total mixed ration containing on dry matter (DM) basis 34% grass silage, 32% maize silage and 34% concentrate feeds. Three dietary treatments were tested, the control (CON, basal diet without QTE), QTE15(basal diet with QTE at 15 g/kg DM) and QTE30(basal diet with QTE at 30 g/kg DM). Two treatments were arranged along six periods each 21 d (13 d adaptation phase and 8 d sampling phase). The ATTD of DM and organic matter were reduced only in Diet QTE30, whereas both QTE treatments reduced ATTD of fibre and nitrogen (N), indicating that QTE impaired rumen fermentation. Nevertheless, feed intake was unaffected by QTE. In Diet CON, urinary N excretion accounted for 29.8% of N intake and decreased in treatments QTE15and QTE30to 27.5% and 17.9%, respectively. Daily faecal N excretion increased in treatments CON, QTE15and QTE30from 211 to 237 and 273 g/d, respectively, which amounted to 39.0%, 42.4% and 51.7% of the N intake, respectively. Hence, QTE shifted N excretion from urine to faeces, whereas the proportion of ingested N appearing in milk was not affected by QTE (average 30.7% of N intake). Daily PD excretion as indicator for microbial crude protein (CP) flow at the duodenum decreased in treatment QTE30compared with Diet CON from 413 to 280 mmol/d. The ratios of total PD to creatinine suggest that urinary PD excretion was already lower when feeding Diet QTE15. While there was no effect of Diet QTE15, treatment QTE30reduced milk yield, milk fat and protein. Both QTE treatments reduced milk urea concentration, which suggest that ruminal degradation of dietary CP was reduced. In summary, adding QTE at dosages of 15 and 30 g/kg DM to diets of lactating dairy cows to improve feed and protein use efficiency is not recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-four Kiko crossbred (8 mo. old, BW = 39.7 ± 2.55 kg) male goats were used to determine the effect of pine bark (PB; Pinus taeda L.) on the chemical composition and quality characteristics of goat meat (chevon). Meat goats were grazed in a winter rye grass-dominant pasture and randomly assigned to either bermudagrass (BG) hay or pine bark (PB) supplementation (n = 12 goats/supplementation) for 55 d. Each supplement consisted of alfalfa pellet, molasses, and mineral mixtures with either BG or PB, provided at 1.5% of BW at individual feeding stations. Longissimus muscle (LM; intramuscular fat) from loin cuts as well as subcutaneous and kidney fats were obtained from each goat carcass for determination of chemical and fatty acid compositions. The loin chops from each carcass were also used to evaluate the quality of chevon. There were no differences ( P > 0.05) found in the average daily weight gain (ADG) and final weight of goats from the two different supplementation groups. The LM pH of goats was not significantly different between the supplementation groups. No significant differences were found in the CIE L* (lightness) and b* (yellowness) values of loin chops from goats supplemented either BG or PB. However, the CIE a* (redness) values of chops from goats fed BG supplement were higher ( P < 0.05) than those from goats fed PB supplement. No differences ( P > 0.05) were found in the proximate composition and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values of LM from goats fed the two different supplements. Furthermore, no significant differences were also found in the Warner-Bratzler shear values and cooking losses of loin chops from goats supplemented either BG or PB. Compared with goats supplemented with BG, goats supplemented with PB had lower ( P < 0.05) concentrations of margaric (C17:0), margaroleic (C17:1n9), and conjugated linoleic (C18:2, CLA ) acids in intramuscular fats; a higher ( P < 0.05) concentration of eicosapentaenoic (C20:5n3) acid in subcutaneous and kidney fats. The results indicated that a diet containing PB such as wood derived CT might not substantially impact the basic nutrient, quality property and fatty acid profile of chevon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tannins (tannic acid) are toxic, high molecular weight and water- soluble polyphenols that are present in many plants such as pistachio and its by- products. Wide ranges of microorganisms including bacteria tolerate tannin and degrade it. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize tannin- tolerant bacteria from pistachio soft hulls (PSH) and feces of goat before and after feeding on this by- product as tannin rich diet. Materials and methods: Tannin tolerant bacteria were isolated from enrichment cultures of samples in medium containing tannic acid as a sole source of carbon and energy. Tannin hydrolyzing ability of isolates was confirmed by observation of clear zones around the colonies. The increasing concentrations of tannin on minimal salt medium (MSM) agar plates were used to test the maximum tolerable concentrations (MTCs). Furthermore, in the supplemented media tannin concentrations were measured by bovine serum albumin (BSA) precipitation assay during time intervals. Results: Tannin- degrading bacterial population of P- SH was about only 10.3% of total population. More than 50 percent of tannin degrading strains were isolated from goat feces after grazing on tannin rich diet. Isolated bacteria were Gram- negative and positive rod species belonging to Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Escherichia and Enterobacter genera. Among the isolated bacteria 71.4% could tolerate the concentration of 64 g/l of tannin in their media while only 7.2% were able to tolerate the maximum tannin concentration of 16 g/l. Bacterial isolates of goat feces could degrade tannin more than 72% after 72 h of incubation. In the case of soft P- SH isolates, the biodegradation percentage was between 17- 75%. Discussion and conclusion: Feeding of tannin rich diet induced a shift in digestive system microbial profile with increased population of tannin tolerant bacteria. The ability of isolated strains provides novel insights for the role they can play in composting tannin containing wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of condensed tannin supplementation in diet on lipid peroxidation in the muscle was evaluated in Nile tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus). In total, 250 fish, aged 21 days old, were randomly allocated into 10 experimental tanks, 25 fish per tank. Five tanks were set as the control group and 5 tanks as the supplemented group. The control fish were fed a commercial diet, while the supplemented fish were fed the same control diet plus 4 g/kg of condensed tannin. The diets were offered at a rate of 8% of estimated fish body weight twice daily. The experimental period lasted for 120 days. At the end of the experiment, 3 fish from each tank were randomly sampled and euthanized by hypothermic method. Epaxial and hypaxial muscles were collected and divided into 2 subsamples to determine lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. The first subsamples were measured for TBARS values immediately after euthanasia within 1 h. The second subsamples were kept at 4°C for 48 h before TBARS value determination (48 h). Average TBARS values measured at 1 h post euthanasia were lower in the supplemented fish [0.2690.028 mg malondialdehyde (MDA)/kg of fresh meat] than in the control fish (0.4800.025 mg MDA/kg). Similar results were also observed for TBARS values measured at 48 h. In conclusion, the dietary supplementation of condensed tannin significantly reduced lipid peroxidation in the muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This study investigated the influence of two microbial inoculants; Lactobacillus formosensis and Lactobacillus buchneri on fermentation quality, chemical composition, aerobic stability and in vitro ruminal biological activity of condensed tannins in sweet potato vines silage. Methods and Results Sweet potato vines were ensiled for 28 and 60 days; without inoculant ( CON), with Lact. buchneri ( LB) or with Lact. formosensis ( LF), both inoculants applied to achieve 1 × 106 CFU g−1 fresh forage. Lactobacillus formosensis silage had lower pH and higher lactic acid than all treatments. Yeasts and moulds were not detected in LB silage after ensiling. Lactobacillus buchneri silage was more aerobically stable than all treatments, whereas LF was more stable than CON silage. In vitro ruminal biological activity of condensed tannins was lower in microbial-inoculated silages than CON after ensiling. Conclusion Lactobacillus formosensis improved fermentability by reducing silage pH and improved aerobic stability by producing more propionate, which inhibited yeast activity. Lactobacillus buchneri improved aerobic stability of the silage by producing more acetate. Both strains effectively reduced the antinutritional effect of condensed tannins after ensiling. Significance and Impact of the Study Lactobacillus formosensis has the potential to be used as a silage inoculant because of its ability to improve fermentability and aerobic stability in sweet potato vines silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy cows are responsible for significant emissions of enteric methane (CH) and produce nitrous oxide (NO) and ammonia (NH) gas from manure. As an abatement strategy, we explored the effects of long-term condensed tannin (Quebracho and chestnut extracts) addition to dairy cow diets. Previous studies have demonstrated that tannins in cow diets reduce methane and ammonia efflux, but none have done so over a >1-month time period. A modified stanchion barn equipped with gas analysis instrumentation measured CH, NO, and NH fluxes into and from the barn, at the onset of the experiment, and 45 and 90 days after feeding groups of lactating dairy cows a control diet or two levels of tannin extract at 0.45 and 1.8 % of dietary dry matter. Few statistical differences among treatments were observed, likely a consequence of high variability and low sample size necessary for conducting a study of this duration. However, on a per-cow basis, low and high tannin diets lowered CH emissions by 56 g cow day and by 48 g cow day, respectively. Diet tannin additions lowered CH (33 %), NH (23 %), and NO (70 %) per unit milk corrected emissions in the high tannin treatment compared to the control at the end of the experiment, without significant loss in milk production. These results suggest that relatively low concentrations of diet tannin additions can reduce ruminant CH and gaseous N emissions from manure. The tannin effect observed after 90 days is a starting point for considering tannin additions as a potential long-term strategy for improving the environmental footprint of milk production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine and compare the DE and ME content as well as the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of GE in 28 samples of sorghum grain fed to growing pigs and to generate prediction equations for DE, ME, and the ATTD of GE based on chemical analysis. The 28 samples included 8 low-tannin sorghum cultivars (LTS; tannin ≤ 0.16%), 10 medium-tannin sorghum cultivars (MTS: 0.67% ≤ tannin ≤ 0.98%), and 10 high-tannin sorghum cultivars (HTS; 1.11% ≤ tannin ≤ 1.51%) obtained from 9 provinces in China and 3 samples of LTS cultivars were obtained internationally. The 28 diets were formulated to contain 96.9% of 1 of the 28 sorghum grains and 3.1% of vitamins and minerals. Eighty-four barrows (36.5 ± 3.4 kg initial BW) were used in a randomized complete block design conducted during 2 consecutive periods (n = 6 per treatment) with the pigs fed different diets during the 2 periods. For each period, pigs were placed in metabolic crates for a 5-d total collection of feces and urine following 7 d of adaptation to the diets. Among the 28 samples, GE, CP, and ADF content (DM basis) ranged from 4,363 to 4,496 kcal/kg, 8.26 to 13.41%, and 3.26 to 5.78%, respectively. The average tannin content was 0.08, 0.84, and 1.29% in the LTS, MTS, and HTS samples, respectively. The DE and ME content (DM basis) ranged from 3,861 to 3,989 and from 3,784 to 3,905 kcal/kg, respectively, in LTS; from 3,646 to 3,740 and from 3,588 to 3,669 kcal/kg, respectively, in MTS; and from 3,481 to 3,617 and from 3,418 to 3,538 kcal/kg, respectively, in HTS. The mean DE, ME, DE/ GE, ME/GE, and ATTD of GE in MTS were less than those in LTS (P < 0.05) and greater than those in HTS (P < 0.05). The correlation coefficients between DE, ME, or the ATTD of GE and tannin content were all -0.96 (P < 0.01). The best-fit equations for DE and ME (kcal/kg DM) for the complete set of 28 sorghum grains were 6,974 - (236 × % tannin) - (43.27 × % ADF) + (24.96 × % CP) - (0.71 × % GE) for DE and 3,973 - (262 × % tannin) - (27.24 × % ADF) for ME. Our results strongly indicate that the DE and ME content of sorghum grains are related to their chemical composition, especially their tannin content. The DE and ME content could decrease by more than 200 kcal/kg when the tannin content is increased by 1% in the sorghum grain. Overall, tannin is a key predictor for the DE and ME content as well as the ATTD of GE in sorghum grains, and the potent antinutritive properties from tannin should not be ignored when sorghum is used as an energy source for pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experimental factors (extract from Vaccinium vitis idaea (VVI) and blend of fish-soybean oils) were investigated in three consecutive experiments to monitor their effects on rumen fermentation and fatty acid (FA) proportions in the rumen fluid and milk. Firstly, in vitro experiment was performed using a semicontinuous culture system (RUSITEC). Four treatments were included: (1) CON—control diet without experimental factors; (2) VVI—control diet with 4.5 g of VVI/kg of DM; (3) FSM—control diet with 30 g of fish and soybean oils blend/kg of DM; (4) MIX—control diet with 4.5 g of VVI/kg of DM and 30 g of oils blend/kg of DM. The proportions of C18:1 t 10, C18:1 t 11 and C18:1 c 9 FA increased ( P < 0.002) in FSM and MIX treatments. Abundance of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus was significantly reduced in three treatments (VVI, FSM, MIX; P < 0.019). Moreover, the MIX significantly decreased methane concentrations by 21% in comparison with the CON ( P < 0.002). Based on preliminary in vitro results from the first experiment, the second, in vivo experiment was conducted using four Polish Holstein-Friesian cows fitted with rumen cannulas. Cows received the diet as a partial mix ration in two variants: (1) CON diet without supplementation (2) MIX diet containing a mixture of VVI dried leaves extract as a source of condensed tannins (4.83 g/kg DM of total diet) and a blend of fish-soybean oils as a source of unsaturated FA (32.2 g/kg) DM of total diet. For the MIX treatment, the proportions of C18:2 c 9- c 12, C18:2 c 9- t 11 and C18:2 t 10- c 12 in the rumen fluid were affected ( P < 0.05), whereas the DNA concentration for B. fibrisolvens and B. proteoclasticus was not changed. Thus the MIX treatment exerted an antimicrobial activity by decreasing protozoa and methanogen numbers, thereby reducing rumen methane production. Finally, the third, production experiment was conducted on 12 lactating Polish Holstein-Friesian cows subjected to the same treatment as the cannulated cows in the second experiment. The MIX treatment did not modify the proportions of majority of the unsaturated FA in milk. The MIX treatment also did not change expression of the six investigated genes: acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 ( ACACA ), fatty acid synthase ( FASN ), lipoprotein lipase ( LPL ), stearoyl-CoAdesaturase ( SCD ), fatty acid desaturase 1 ( FADS1 ), fatty acid elongase 5 ( ELOVL5 ). In conclusion, unexpectedly, the MIX treatment did not change the milk FA proportion, and this phenomenon could be attributed to a lack of effects of the both provided supplements. In spite of that, the MIX treatment significantly decreased the methanogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been suggested that condensed tannin (CT) fractions of different molecular weights (MWs) affect the level of methane (CH 4 ) production in ruminant by altering the ruminal methanogenic diversity. In this study, the effects of unfractionated CTs (F0) and five CT fractions (F1–F5) of different MWs from Leucaena leucocephala hybrid-Rendang (LLR) on the population and diversity of rumen methanogenic archaea in vitro were investigated using real-time PCR and high throughput sequencing. Real-time PCR analysis showed that higher-MW CT fractions (fractions F1 and F2) significantly ( P < 0.05) decreased more total methanogens and methanogens from the order Methanobacteriales than the control (without CTs), unfractionated CTs F0 and lower-MW CT fractions (fractions F3-F5). Population of methanogens from the order Methanomicrobiales was not significantly ( P > 0.05) different among all CT fractions and the control. Amplification of archaeal 16S RNA genes (targeting the V3 region) of seven samples (obtained from in vitro gas production test) using Illumina Miseq sequencer, recovered 642,244 sequences (mean of 91,763 sequences per sample) which consisted of a number of OTUs ranging from 91 to 155 and were assigned to 12 genera. Bioinformatic analysis illustrated that the natural rumen archaeal community of a cattle (without supplementation of CTs) was predominated by an unclassified genus, VadinCA11 gut group which is Thermoplasmata -associated (56.3% of the total sequence reads), followed by Methanobrevibacter (25.1%) and Methanomicrobium (15.3%), while the remaining genera were below 1% of relative abundance. Relative abundance of the unclassified Thermoplasmata -associated group (VadinCA11 gut group) increased significantly ( P < 0.05) with increasing MWs of the CT fractions, whereas the predominant methanogen genus Methanobrevibacter was significantly ( P < 0.05) decreased. Condensed tannin fraction F4, but not the other CT fractions, significantly ( P < 0.05) increased the second predominant methongen genus Methanomicrobium . Condensed tannin fractions of different MWs from LLR could alter the size of populations and diversity of rumen methanogenic archaea in vitro , which could contribute to the reduction of CH 4 production, and the impact was more pronounced for CT fractions with higher-MWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]