title: Effect of feeding dehydrated and ensiled tanniferous sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) on nitrogen and mineral digestion and metabolism of lambs.
abstract: The effects of tanniferous sainfoin on digestion and metabolism have been investigated in 12 lambs in an incomplete cross-over design (n = 6). Effects of condensed tannins (CT) were evaluated by comparing dehydrated and ensiled sainfoin treated with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG). Dehydrated and ensiled grass-clover mixtures served as controls. The lambs were fed the treatment diets, including a mineral supplement, for 21 d. During the last 7 d excreta, rumen fluid and blood were sampled. The CT of sainfoin decreased rumen fluid ammonia concentration (p < 0.001) and increased the plasma concentration mainly of essential amino acids (p < 0.001). Body retention of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium was lower with sainfoin compared to PEG-treated sainfoin (p < 0.05). Sainfoin without PEG resulted in lower digestibilities of organic matter and neutral detergent fibre than sainfoin with PEG and the grass-clover mixture (p < 0.001). Ensiling of sainfoin led to the lowest N-retention. In conclusion, the reduction in ruminal ammonia and urine-N losses by sainfoin CT did not improve N-retention.
authors.affiliation: Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux, Research Station ALP, Posieux, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scharenberg
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arrigo
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gutzwiller
authors.forename: Ueli
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wyss
authors.forename: Hans D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kreuzer
authors.forename: Frigga
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dohme
mesh_terms: D000601:Amino Acids, Essential / Q000097:blood; D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004063:Digestion / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011897:Random Allocation; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012820:Silage; D013634:Tannins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000601:Amino Acids, Essential; D008903:Minerals; D013634:Tannins; D014867:Water; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D009584:Nitrogen