Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T09:20:45.022Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of feeding quebracho tannin diets, with or without a dietary modifier, on rumen function in sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

M. B. Salawu
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Ayr KA6 5HW Aberdeen University, 581 King Street, Aberdeen AB24 5UD Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
T. Acamovic
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Ayr KA6 5HW
C. S. Stewart
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
F. D. DeB. Hoveli
Affiliation:
Aberdeen University, 581 King Street, Aberdeen AB24 5UD
Get access

Abstract

The effect of quebracho tannin (QT) on the activities of rumen microbes was studied both in vivo and in vitro. The in vivo study was carried out in four rumen environments created by feeding four fistulated sheep a basal diet of chopped grass hay, grass cubes and whole barley (control) with or without the addition of QT and the dietary modifier Browse Plus (BP). The active ingredients in BP are polyethylene glycol (PEG, more than 0·95 of the dry material), polyvinyI pyrrolidone (PVP) and calcium hydroxide. The diets offered were control, control plus 50 g QT per kg diet (CQT), control plus 50 g QT per kg and 0·1 (CQT+ 0·1) or 1.0 g BP per kg (CQT + 1·0). The experiment was a 4 X 4 Latin-square design with periods of 4 weeks. Rumen liquor samples were collected at 0, 2, and 8 h after feeding, 18 and 25 days after commencement of each period. Changes in free and bound proanthocyanidin (PA) concentrations, rumen pH, ammonia, volatile fatty acids (VFA), soluble protein concentrations, particle-bound cellulase and xylanase activities and rumen protozoal counts were used as indices of microbial activities. The same diets were incubated with rumen contents in vitro, except that the 0.1 g/kg level of BP was replaced by a fourth treatment made up of control plus 1·0 g BP per kg DM of hay (CBP). In vivo, bound PA concentrations in the rumen liquor of all the sheep given QT-containing diets were higher than those of the free PAs. The bound PA was higher (V < 0·05) in the rumen liquor of sheep given CQT in comparison with those containing BP. There were reductions in ammonia (P > 0·05), soluble protein (P < 0·05) and total VFA (P > 0·05) concentrations in the rumen liquor of sheep given CQT in comparison with those given the control and BP-containing diets. Reductions (P > 0·05) were also observed in the cellulase and xylanase activities of the rumen microbes and in protozoal counts (P < 0·05) in the presence of QT in the diet. In vitro, QT reduced (P > 0·05) the viable bacterial counts, gas production and the total VFA concentrations after incubation. In both the in vivo and in vitro experiments, BP was able to alleviate some but not all of the depression in microbial activities. The main constituent (PEG) in BP binds to some of the tannins in solution and may displace tannins from tannin-protein complexes.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Present address: Welsh Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales, Llanbadarn Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3AL

References

Acamovic, T., Garwe, E., Stewart, C. S. and Duncan, I. M. 1995. The nutritional and anti-nutritional characteristics of six browse species from Zimbabwe. Animal Science 60: 540 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Bae, H. D., McAllister, T. A., Yanke, J., Cheng, K. J. and Muir, A. D. 1993. Effects of condensed tannins on endoglucanase activity and filter paper digestion by Fibrobacter succinogenes S85. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 59: 21322138.Google ScholarPubMed
Bae, H. D., Yanke, L. J., McAllister, T. A., Forsberg, C. W. and Cheng, K. J. 1994. Effects of quebracho (Loxopterygium loetzil) condensed tannins on grain digestion. Proceedings of the Society of Nutrition Physiology 3: 200 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Barry, T. N. 1989. Condensed tannins: their role in ruminant protein and carbohydrate digestion and possible effects upon the rumen ecosystem. In The roles of protozoa and fungi in ruminant digestion (ed. Nolan, J. V., Leng, R. A. and Demeyer, D. I.). Penambul Books, Armidale, Australia.Google Scholar
Bird, S. H. and Leng, R. A. 1978. The effects of defaunation of the rumen on the growth of cattle on low protein, high energy diets. British Journal of Nutrition 40: 163167.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bradford, M. 1976. A rapid and sensitive method for quantitation of microgram quantities of proteins utilising the principle of protein-dye binding. Analytical Biochemistry 72: 248254.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bryant, M. P. 1972. Commentary on the Hungate technique for cultivation of anaerobic bacteria. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 25: 13241328.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chiquette, J., Cheng, K. J., Rode, L. M. and Milligan, L. P. 1989. Effect of tannin content in two isosynthetic strains of bird foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) on feed digestibility and rumen fluid composition in sheep. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 69: 10311039.Google Scholar
Field, J. A. and Lettinga, G. 1992. Toxicity of rannie compounds to microorganisms. In Plant polyphenols (ed. Hemingway, R. W. and Laks, P. E.), pp. 673692. Plenum Press, New York.Google Scholar
Flint, H. J. and Forsberg, C. W. 1995. Polysaccharide degradation in the rumen: biochemistry and genetics. In Vlllth international symposium on ruminant physiology, pp. 4370. Ferdinand Enke Verlag, Germany.Google Scholar
Hagerman, A. E. and Butler, L. G. 1981. The specificity of proanthocyanidin-protein interactions. Journal of Biological Chemistry 256: 44944497.Google ScholarPubMed
Hobson, P. N. 1969. The rumen bacteria. In Methods in microbiology, volume 3B (ed. Norris, J. R. and Ribbons, D. W.), pp. 133149. Academic Press, London.Google Scholar
Hungate, R. E. 1966. The rumen and its microbes. Academic Press, London.Google Scholar
Hungate, R. E. 1969. A roll-tube method for the cultivation of strict anaerobes. In Methods in microbiology, volume 3B (ed. Norris, J. R. and Ribbons, D. W.), pp. 117132. Academic Press, London.Google Scholar
Jones, W. T. and Mangan, J. L. 1977. Complexes of the condensed tannins of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop) with fraction 1 leaf protein and with sub maxillary mucoprotein, and their reversal by polyethylene glycol and pH. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 28: 126136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Káinja, C. and Acamovic, T. 1997. The chelation of trace elements by tannins. Proceedings of the fifth international symposium on poisonous plants, San Angelo, Texas, USA, (ed. Garland, T. and Barr, A. C.), pp. 111114. CAB International, Wallingford.Google Scholar
Klita, P. T., Mathison, G. W., Fenton, T. W. and Hardin, R. T. 1996. Effects of alfalfa root saponins on digestive function in sheep. Journal of Animal Science 74: 11441156.Google Scholar
Kumar, R. and Singh, M. 1984. Tannins: their role in ruminant nutrition. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 32: 447453.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kumar, R. and Vaithiyanathan, S. 1990. Occurrence, nutritional significance and effect on animal productivity of tannin in tree leaves. Animal Feed Science and Technology 30: 2128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lever, M. 1977. Carbohydrate determination with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide (PAHBAH): effect of bismuth on the reaction. Analytical Biochemistry 81: 2127.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McAllister, T. A., Bae, H. D., Yanke, L. J. and Cheng, K. J. 1994. Effect of condensed tannins from birdsfoot trefoil on endoglucanase activity and the digestion of cellulose filter paper by ruminai fungi. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 40: 298305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McNabb, W. C., Waghorn, G. C., Barry, T. N. and Shelton, I. D. 1993. The effects of condensed tannins in Lotus Pedunculatus on the digestion and metabolism of methionine, cystine and inorganic sulphur in sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 70: 647661.Google Scholar
Makkar, H. P. S. and Becker, K. 1995. Degradation of condensed tannins by rumen microbes exposed to quebracho tannins (QT) in rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) and effects of QT on fermentative processes in the RUSITEC. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 69: 495500.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Makkar, H. P. S. and Becker, K. 1996. Tannins and saponins as modulators of rumen fermentation. Proceedings of the all Africa conference on animal agriculture, South Africa, volume 1, p. 4.Google Scholar
Makkar, H. P. S., Dawra, R. K. and Singh, B. 1990. In vitro effect of oak tannins on some hydrolytic and ammonia assimilating enzymes of the bovine rumen. Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition 7: 207210.Google Scholar
Makkar, H. P. S., Singh, B. and Dawra, R. K. 1988. Effect of tannin rich leaves of oak (Quercus incana) on various microbial enzymes activities of bovine rumen. British Journal of Nutrition 60: 287296.Google ScholarPubMed
Mangan, J. L. 1988. Nutritional effects of tannins in animal feed. Nutrition Research Reviews 1: 209231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mansoori, B. and Acamovic, T. 1997. The excretion of minerals from broilers fed tannic acid, polyethylene glycol and protein. Proceedings of the fifth international symposium on poisonous plants, San Angelo, Texas, USA, (ed. Garland, T. and Barr, A. C.), pp. 101105. CAB International, Wallingford.Google Scholar
Martin, J. S. and Martin, M. M. 1983. Tannin assays in ecological studies. Precipitation of ribulose-1, 5-biphosphate carboxylase / oxygenase by tannic acid, quebracho, and oak leaf foliage extracts. Journal of Chemical Ecology 9: 285294.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Menke, K. H. and Steingass, M. 1988. Estimation of the energetic feed value obtained from chemical analysis and in vitro gas production using rumen fluid. Animal Research and Development 28: 755. Google Scholar
Mgheni, D. M., Kimambo, A. E., Sundstol, F. and Madsen, J. 1994. The influence of urea supplementation or treatment of rice straw and fish meal supplementation on rumen environment and activity in sheep. Animal Feed Science and Technology 49: 223235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minitab Incorporation. 1995. Minitab for Windows, release 10.51 extra. Minitab Incorporation, Enterprise Drive, State College, PA, USA.Google Scholar
Mould, F. L., Ørskov, E. R. and Mann, S. O. 1983. Associative effect of mixed feeds. 1. Effect of type and level of supplementation and influence of the rumen fluid pH on cellulolysis in vivo and dry matter digestion of various roughages. Animal Feed Science and Technology 10: 1530.Google Scholar
Muhammed, S., Stewart, C. S. and Acamovic, T. 1994. Effects of tannic acid on cellulose degradation, adhesion and enzymie activity of rumen micro-organisms. Proceedings of the Society of Nutrition Physiology 3: 174 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Nolan, J. V., Leng, R. A. and Demeyer, D. I. 1989. The roles of protozoa and fungi in ruminant digestion. Penambul Books, Armidale, Australia.Google Scholar
Oh, H. I. and Hoff, J. E. 1987. pH dependence of complex formation between condensed tannins and protein. Journal of Food Science 52: 12671270.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ørskov, E. R. 1982. Protein nutrition in ruminants. Academic Press, London.Google Scholar
Porter, L. J., Hrstich, L. N. and Chan, B. C. 1986. The conversion of procyanidins and prodelphinidins to cyanidins and delphinidin. Phytochemistry 25: 223230.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reed, J. D. 1986. Relationships among soluble phenolics, insoluble procyanidins and fibre in East African browse species. journal of Range Management 39: 57. Google Scholar
Salawu, M. M., Acamovic, T. and Stewart, C. S. 1998. Calliandra calothyrsus leaf extracts’ effects on microbial growth and enzyme activities. In Toxic plants and other natural toxicants, (ed. Garland, T. and Barr, A. E.), pp. 509513. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.Google Scholar
Salawu, M. B., Acamovic, T., Stewart, C. S. and Hoveli, F. D. DeB. 1997a. Quebracho tannins with or without Browse Plus (a commercial preparation of polyethylene glycol) in sheep diets: effect on digestibility of nutrients in vivo, and degradation of grass hay in sacco and in vitro . Animal Feed Science and Technology 69: 6778.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Salawu, M. B., Acamovic, T., Stewart, C. S. and Hoveli, F. D. DeB. 1997b. Proanthocyanidin (PA) content of Calliandra leaves and the effect of polyethylene glycol and pH on complexes formed between Calliandra tannins and Bovine serum albumin (BSA). Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science, 1997, p. 70.Google Scholar
Salawu, M. B., Acamovic, T., Stewart, C. S., Hoveli, F. D. DeB. and McKay, I. 1997c. Assessment of the nutritive value of Calliandra calothyrsus: in sacco degradability and in vitro gas production in the presence of quebracho tannins with or without Browse Plus. Animal Feed Science and Technology 69: 219232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scalbert, A. 1991. Anti microbial properties of tannins. Review article number 63. Phytochemistry 30: 38753883.Google Scholar
Silva, A. T., Wallace, R. J. and Ørskov, E. R. 1987. Use of particle-bound microbial enzyme activity to predict the rate and extent of fibre degradation in the rumen. British Journal of Nutrition 57: 407415.Google ScholarPubMed
Steele, R. G. D. and Torrie, J. H. 1980. Principles and procedures of statistical analysis. MacGraw Hill Book Co., New York.Google Scholar
Stewart, C. S. 1977. Factors affecting the cellulolytic activity of rumen contents. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 33: 497502.Google ScholarPubMed
Terrill, T. N., Rowan, A. M., Douglas, G. B. and Barry, T. N. 1992. Determination of extractable and bound condensed tannin concentrations in forage plants, protein concentrate meals and cereal grains. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 58: 321329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Topps, J. H. 1992. Potential composition and use of legume shrubs and trees as fodders for livestock in the tropics. Review. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 118:18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vaithiyanathan, S. and Kumar, R. 1993. Relationship between protein precipitation capacity of fodder tree leaves and their tannin content. Animal Feed Science and Technology 44: 281287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, Y., Douglas, G. B., Waghorn, G. C., Barry, T. N. and Foote, A. G. 1996. Effect of condensed tannins in Lotus corniculatus upon lactation performance of ewes. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 126: 353362.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
William, A. G. and Coleman, G. S. 1985. The rumen protozoa. In The rumen microbial ecosystem, (ed. Hobson, P. N.), pp. 77128. Eiselvier Scientific Publishers Ltd, England.Google Scholar