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The evaluation of Acacia and other tree pods for goats: influence of rumen fluid source and polyethylene glycol addition on in vitro gas production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

V. Mlambo ,
F. L. Mould ,
T. Smith ,
E. Owen  and
I. Mueller-Harvey
V. Mlambo
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, The University of Reading, P O Box 237, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK Matopos Research Station, Private Bag K5137, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
F. L. Mould
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, The University of Reading, P O Box 237, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
T. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, The University of Reading, P O Box 237, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
E. Owen
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, The University of Reading, P O Box 237, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
I. Mueller-Harvey
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, The University of Reading, P O Box 237, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
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Extract

After prolonged exposure to tanniniferous diets, it has been reported that some rumen microorganisms acquire defensive mechanisms against tannins (Brooker et al., 2000) or produce tannin-degrading enzymes. Such rumen microorganisms are said to be “tannin resistant” as their fermentation activity is less inhibited by the presence of tannins in the host’s diet. As acacia pods contain tannins their use as protein supplements for goats in the dry season may require that they be first detannified e.g. by using polyethylene glycol (PEG). However, goats with prior exposure to tanniniferous diets may have developed adaptive mechanisms to deal with tannins. This study, therefore, investigated the need for tannin inactivation in feeds given to ‘adapted’ animals by comparing the effect on the in vitro fermentation of tree pods incubated with and without PEG using rumen fluid from adapted and unadapted goats.

Type
Poster Presentations
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 2002 , 2002 , pp. 132
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2002

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References

Brooker, J. D., O’Donovan, L., Skene, I. and Sellick, G. 2000. Mechanisms of tannin resistance and detoxification in the rumen. In: Brooker, J. D. (Ed), Tannins in Livestock and Human Nutrition. ACIAR Proceedings No. 92, pp 117 – 122.Google Scholar
Mauricio, R. M., Mould, F.L., Dhanoa, M.S., Owen, E., Channa, K.S. and Theodorou, M.K.. 1999. A semi-automated in vitro gas production technique for ruminant feedstuff evaluation. Animal Feed Science and Technology 79: 321 – 330.CrossRefGoogle Scholar