Impact of a tannin extract on digestibility and net flux of metabolites across splanchnic tissues of sheep

ORLANDI, TIAGO; STEFANELLO, SIMONE; MEZZOMO, MARIANA P.; POZO, CLAUDIO A.; KOZLOSKI, GILBERTO V.

ANIMAL FEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2020 vol. 261

0377-8401

This study was conducted to quantify the impact of the dietary inclusion of Acacia mearnsii bark extract (TA), a tannin extract, on total tract digestibility and on ammonia, urea and glucose splanchnic net flux in sheep. The trial was conducted with five Texel male sheep (48±3.2 kg body weight (BW)) surgically implanted with chronic indwelling catheters into one mesenteric,portal and hepatic veins, in two 21-day periods, in a cross-over design. Diet was oat/ryegrass hay, offered ad libitum, plus concentrate offered three times per day at a rate of 14 g/kg BW. The concentrate, composed of soybean meal, cracked corn and wheat bran, included (Tannin) or not (Control) 20 g/kg dry matter (DM) of TA. Plasma flow and net flux through portal-drained viscera (PDV), liver and total splanchnic tissues (ST) were measured using four hourly samples, from 14:00 to 17:00, after the 12:00 meal. Total TA concentration in diet of TA treatment averaged 7.7 g/kg DM. The organic matter (OM) intake and digestibility were not affected by TA. The nitrogen (N) intake and fecal excretion, the estimated rumen microbial N flow to the small intestine andthe efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (EMPS) were not affected whereas the digestibility of N compounds and the urinary excretion of urea-N were lower (P