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Effect of condensed tannins in Lotus pedunculatus on the nutritive value of ryegrass (Lolium perenne) fed to sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

G. C. Waghorn  and
I. D. Shelton
G. C. Waghorn
Affiliation:
Ag ResearchGrasslands Research StationPrivate Bag 11008Palmerston NorthNew Zealand
I. D. Shelton
Affiliation:
Ag ResearchGrasslands Research StationPrivate Bag 11008Palmerston NorthNew Zealand
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Summary

A feeding trial was undertaken in Palmerston North, New Zealand in 1991, to determine the extent to which condensed tannins (CT) in Lotus pedunculatus were able to affect the nutritive value of ryegrass (which does not contain CT) for sheep. The trial involved three groups of 11 male cryptorchid sheep held in metabolism crates so that intakes, digestibilities and nitrogen balances could be measured over a 42-day feeding period. One group was fed freshly cut ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) as a sole diet (Grass group) and the other two groups were given a mixture of about one third freshly cut lotus and two thirds ryegrass (dry matter (DM) basis). This mixture contained c. 1·8% CT in the DM. One group given the mixed diet was drenched twice daily with polyethylene glycol (PEG; PEG group) to bind and remove the effects of the CT from the diet, whilst those not drenched were designated the ‘Tannin’ group. Intakes of all groups were constrained to that of the Grass group of sheep.

Condensed tannins in the lotus had a major effect on the digestion of ryegrass. When the forages were immature, apparent digestibility of nitrogen (N) was substantially reduced in the Tannin sheep (65·3%)compared to the PEG (77·5%) and Grass (77·9%) groups (P < 0·001). With mature forages, the respective values were 48·8, 62·5 and 53·7% (P < 0·01). Rumen ammonia concentrations and plasma urea concentrations were also reduced by CT. Condensed tannins reduced DM digestibility by 3·7 percentage units (P < 0·05) mainly through the effects on N digestion. Concentrations of acetate, propionate and butyrate in rumen liquor were not affected by treatment, but CT reduced the proportions of the minor volatile fatty acids (VFA; isobutyrate, valerate and isovalerate). Treatment did not affect liveweight gain (131—164 g/day), or wool growth from mid-side patches, and N retention was not reduced by CT, so that the nutritive value of the forage was maintained despite the reduction in N digestibility. The principal finding was that CT in Lotus pedunculatus were able to affect the digestibility of both grass and lotus when fed together, and that as little as 1·8% of CT in the dietary DM had a substantial effect on rumen function.

Type
Animals
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 125 , Issue 2 , October 1995 , pp. 291 - 297
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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