title: Assessment of the effect of condensed (acacia and quebracho) and hydrolysable (chestnut and valonea) tannins on rumen fermentation and methane production in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tannins added to animal diets may have a positive effect on energy and protein utilisation in the rumen. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of different sources and concentrations (20, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g kg⁻¹ dry matter (DM)) of condensed (acacia and quebracho) and hydrolysable (chestnut and valonea) tannins on rumen microbial fermentation in vitro. The experiment also included a negative control with no tannins (control) and a positive control with monensin (10 mg L⁻¹).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro gas production and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration decreased as tannin concentration increased. Addition of acacia, chestnut or valonea tannins at ≥ 50 g kg⁻¹ or quebracho tannins at ≥ 100 g kg⁻¹ resulted in a decrease (up to 40%) in methane (CH₄) production compared with the control. Valonea tannins were the only tannin source that reduced (-11%) CH₄ production at 50 g kg⁻¹ without affecting VFA concentration. Tannin treatments reduced ammonia (NH₃) and branched-chain VFA concentrations, indicating a reduction in ruminal protein degradation. Monensin reduced CH₄ production (-37%) and NH₃ concentration (-20%) without affecting total VFA concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplying acacia, chestnut or valonea tannins at 50 g kg⁻¹ has the potential to reduce CH₄ production and ruminal protein degradation with minimum detrimental effects on efficiency of ruminal fermentation.
authors: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre, 2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1M 0C8, Canada.
authors: Fadi
authors: F
authors: Hassanat
authors: Chaouki
authors: C
authors: Benchaar
mesh_terms: D000045:Acacia / Q000737:chemistry; D027926:Anacardiaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D004063:Digestion; D029962:Fagaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008697:Methane / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D059748:Proteolysis; D029963:Quercus / Q000737:chemistry; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D008697:Methane