The Effects of a Small Dose of Tannin Supplementation on In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics of Different Forages
Pastoral systems in New Zealand are under societal pressure due to their increasing negative environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementing a mixture containing hydrolysable and condensed tannins on the in vitro ferment...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Sytske de Jong Fabiellen C. Pereira Alejandro R. Castillo Wilbert F. Pellikaan Pablo Gregorini |
| author_facet | Sytske de Jong Fabiellen C. Pereira Alejandro R. Castillo Wilbert F. Pellikaan Pablo Gregorini |
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| description | Pastoral systems in New Zealand are under societal pressure due to their increasing negative environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementing a mixture containing hydrolysable and condensed tannins on the in vitro fermentation characteristics and gas production of three different forages, <i>Lolium perenne</i>, <i>Medicago sativa</i>, and <i>Plantago lanceolata</i>. Three fermentation runs of 48 h were conducted using the ANKOM gas production technique, with each pertaining to a particular forage with or without (control) tannin. Tannins were added to the fermentable substrate (i.e., forage) at a level of 0.3%. For each run, rumen fluid was collected from two fistulated Holstein Friesian × Jersey cows. The ANKOM RF gas production modules were used to monitor gas pressure and temperature every 5 min. At the end of each run, the pH of the fluid was measured, gas vials were taken for methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) measurements and liquor samples were taken to measure volatile fatty acids (VFA) and NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations. The addition of tannins reduced the fractional rate of gas production for alfalfa (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.04) but increased it for ryegrass and plantain. There was a tendency for reduced gas production for ryegrass when tannins were added (<i>p</i> = 0.10). There was also a tendency for CH<sub>4</sub> production to reduce (<i>p</i> < 0.10) and N<sub>2</sub>O to increase (<i>p</i> = 0.10) when tannins were added. Iso-butyrate tended to be lower for ryegrass control than to ryegrass with tannins (<i>p</i> = 0.08). Valerate concentration was lower for plantain control than to plantain with tannins. No effects were detected for gas composition (<i>p</i> > 0.05) or VFA concentrations (<i>p</i> > 0.05) when fermenting alfalfa. Under the condition of this study, these results may suggest that low-level tannin addition to the diet may affect rumen-fermentation pattern with a potential reduction of CH<sub>4</sub> production in Lolium perenne-based diets. Further research is required on the effect of low levels of tannin supplementation under ex vitro and in vivo conditions as tannin supplementation effects might be substrate-dependent. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-3ad3a7e43d6d4ed388b5b716cd3972582025-08-20T03:52:56ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-04-01159126910.3390/ani15091269The Effects of a Small Dose of Tannin Supplementation on In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics of Different ForagesSytske de Jong0Fabiellen C. Pereira1Alejandro R. Castillo2Wilbert F. Pellikaan3Pablo Gregorini4Animal Nutrition Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 Wageningen, The NetherlandsDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 85084, Lincoln 7647, New ZealandDivision of Agricultural and Natural Resources, Cooperative Extension, University of California, Merced, CA 95340, USAAnimal Nutrition Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 Wageningen, The NetherlandsDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 85084, Lincoln 7647, New ZealandPastoral systems in New Zealand are under societal pressure due to their increasing negative environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementing a mixture containing hydrolysable and condensed tannins on the in vitro fermentation characteristics and gas production of three different forages, <i>Lolium perenne</i>, <i>Medicago sativa</i>, and <i>Plantago lanceolata</i>. Three fermentation runs of 48 h were conducted using the ANKOM gas production technique, with each pertaining to a particular forage with or without (control) tannin. Tannins were added to the fermentable substrate (i.e., forage) at a level of 0.3%. For each run, rumen fluid was collected from two fistulated Holstein Friesian × Jersey cows. The ANKOM RF gas production modules were used to monitor gas pressure and temperature every 5 min. At the end of each run, the pH of the fluid was measured, gas vials were taken for methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) measurements and liquor samples were taken to measure volatile fatty acids (VFA) and NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations. The addition of tannins reduced the fractional rate of gas production for alfalfa (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.04) but increased it for ryegrass and plantain. There was a tendency for reduced gas production for ryegrass when tannins were added (<i>p</i> = 0.10). There was also a tendency for CH<sub>4</sub> production to reduce (<i>p</i> < 0.10) and N<sub>2</sub>O to increase (<i>p</i> = 0.10) when tannins were added. Iso-butyrate tended to be lower for ryegrass control than to ryegrass with tannins (<i>p</i> = 0.08). Valerate concentration was lower for plantain control than to plantain with tannins. No effects were detected for gas composition (<i>p</i> > 0.05) or VFA concentrations (<i>p</i> > 0.05) when fermenting alfalfa. Under the condition of this study, these results may suggest that low-level tannin addition to the diet may affect rumen-fermentation pattern with a potential reduction of CH<sub>4</sub> production in Lolium perenne-based diets. Further research is required on the effect of low levels of tannin supplementation under ex vitro and in vivo conditions as tannin supplementation effects might be substrate-dependent.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1269pastoral livestock production systemsrumen fermentationtannins |
| spellingShingle | Sytske de Jong Fabiellen C. Pereira Alejandro R. Castillo Wilbert F. Pellikaan Pablo Gregorini The Effects of a Small Dose of Tannin Supplementation on In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics of Different Forages Animals pastoral livestock production systems rumen fermentation tannins |
| title | The Effects of a Small Dose of Tannin Supplementation on In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics of Different Forages |
| title_full | The Effects of a Small Dose of Tannin Supplementation on In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics of Different Forages |
| title_fullStr | The Effects of a Small Dose of Tannin Supplementation on In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics of Different Forages |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of a Small Dose of Tannin Supplementation on In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics of Different Forages |
| title_short | The Effects of a Small Dose of Tannin Supplementation on In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics of Different Forages |
| title_sort | effects of a small dose of tannin supplementation on in vitro fermentation characteristics of different forages |
| topic | pastoral livestock production systems rumen fermentation tannins |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1269 |
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