A procedure was developed for extraction of 'free' condensed tannins (CT) using a mixture of acetone/water/diethyI ether (4.7 : 2.0 : 3.3), followed by extraction of protein-bound and fibre-bound CT using boiling sodium dodecyl sulphate containing 2-mercaptoethanol (SDS). CT concentrations in all three fractions were determined by a modified butanolLHC1 procedure. Separate standard curves using purified CT in water or SDS solution were utilised for analysis of extractable C T (water standards) and protein-bound and fibre-bound CT (SDS standards). The method accurately predicted the concentration of CT added to forage extracts. CT extractable in acetone/water/diethyI ether comprised, on average, 68 YO of total CT in a range of freeze dried forage legume samples, with most of the remainder being bound to protein. When total CT concentration was low (0.6-3.0 YO DM). a lower proportion was extractable (33-35 O h ) . In protein concentrate meals containing CT, the extractable. proteinbound and fibre-bound components comprised 15, 60 and 25% respectively of total CT. Total CT concentration in the forages Lorus cornicukutus and Coronillu ouriu was considered appropriate for ruminant nutrition (2.1 and 3.0 YO DM), whilst CT concentration in the forage of Dorycnium spp (13-19 % DM) was more suitable for soil conservation purposes. The substantial CT concentration in cottonseed meal (1.6% DM) may be involved in the high resistance of proteins in this product to ruminal degradation. CT concentration was indistinguishable from zero in perennial ryegrass forage, in barley and triticale grains and in soya bean meal (0.1 YO DM).

SUMMARYAreas of sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) and pasture (Lolium perenne/Trifolium repens/Holcus lanatus) were grazed by young sheep (29·5–34·8 kg initial liveweight) in four experiments, and effects upon body growth, wool growth and rumen metabolism were measured.Sulla contained 40–50 g condensed tannins (CT)/kg DM, whilst the pasture contained small amounts of CT (2–6 g/kg DM). After chewing during eating, a lower proportion of total CT was readily extractable and greater proportions were protein-bound and fibre-bound. Nutritional effects attributable to CT were assessed by oral administration of polyethylene glycol (PEG), which binds and inactivates CT, to half the animals grazing each forage. Rates of body growth were consistently higher for lambs grazing sulla than those grazing pasture, with the CT concentration in sulla being neither stimulatory or inhibitory to body growth or voluntary feed intake (VFI). The action of CT reduced carcass fatness in sheep fed both diets, in the one experiment where this was measured. CT present in both sulla and pasture decreased rumen ammonia concentration and decreased molar proportions of iso-butyrate and iso and n-valerate. During spring and early summer, when wool growth rates were highest, CT present in both pasture and sulla increased wool growth rate; when wool growth rates were low during winter, CT had no effect upon the wool growth of sheep grazing either forage. Numbers of protozoa and molar proportions of n-butyrate in rumen fluid were increased by CT in sheep grazing sulla but not pasture.It was concluded that the higher rates of body growth and VFI in lambs grazing sulla was most likely to be due to its very high ratio of readily fermentable: structural carbohydrate.

A grazing experiment was conducted for 8 weeks in the spring/summer of 1993 at Palmerston North, New Zealand, to study the effects of condensed tannins (CT) in Lotus corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil; cv. Grasslands Goldie) upon the lactation performance of ewes rearing twin lambs. Effects of CT were evaluated by studying the responses of ewes to twice daily oral supplementation with polyethylene glycol (PEG; MW 3500), which binds and inactivates CT. A rotational grazing system with restricted feed allowance was used. Measurements were made of pre-and post-grazing herbage mass, the composition of the feed on offer and diet selected, voluntary feed intake (VF1), milk yield and composition, liveweight gain and wool production. The concentration of metabolites in rumen fluid and in blood plasma was also measured. Lotus contained 35-5 g total nitrogen and 44-5 g total CT/kg dry matter in the diet selected, with an in vitro digestibility of 73%. At peak lactation (weeks 3 and 4) milk yield and composition were similar for control (CT-acting) and PEG-supplemented (CTinactivated) ewes but, as lactation progressed, the decline in milk production and in the secretion rates of protein and lactose were less for control than for PEG-supplemented ewes. In mid and late lactation (weeks 6-11), control ewes secreted more milk (21 %), more milk protein (14%) and more lactose (12%) than PEG-supplemented ewes. Milk fat percentage was lower for control than for PEG-supplemented ewes, but secretion rates of fat were similar for the two groups. VFI, liveweight gain and wool growth were similar for both groups. Plasma urea and glucose concentrations were lower for control than for PEG-supplemented ewes, but concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), growth hormone and insulin were similar for the two groups. The concentrations of ammonia and molar proportions of wo-butyric, iso-and /i-valeric acids in rumen fluid were lower for control than for PEG-supplemented ewes; molar proportions of acetic, propionic and H-butyric acids were similar for the two groups. It was concluded that for ewes rearing twin lambs grazing L. corniculatus, the action of CT increased milk yield and the secretion rates of protein and lactose without affecting VFI, thereby increasing the efficiency of milk production. The increased milk production did not appear to be mediated by effects on plasma concentrations of growth hormone or insulin.^~~~--î

A grazing experiment, conducted for 22 weeks in 1992/93 at Aorangi Research Station, AgResearch Grasslands, Manawatu, New Zealand, compared the productivity of weaned lambs grazing Lotus corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil) and lucerne {Medicago sativa). Effects of condensed tannins (CT) in lotus were evaluated by studying the responses of lambs to twice daily oral supplementation with polyethylene glycol (PEG). A rotational grazing system with restricted feed allowance was used. Measurements were made of pre-and post-grazing herbage mass, the composition of the feed on offer and diet selected, voluntary feed intake (VFI), liveweight gain (LWG), carcass growth, wool growth and the concentration of metabolites in rumen fluid. For both lotus and lucerne swards, the diet selected was mainly leaf. Lotus contained 34 g total CT/kg dry matter in the diet selected, whilst there were essentially no CT in lucerne. Compared to lambs grazing lucerne, lambs grazing lotus had slightly lower VFI, and higher LWG, carcass weight gain, carcass dressing-out percentage and wool growth. PEG supplementation had no effect on these measurements or upon the composition of rumen fluid in lambs grazing lucerne. However, in lambs grazing lotus, PEG supplementation reduced wool growth (109 v. 121 g/day), slightly reduced LWG (188 v. 203 g/day), increased rumen ammonia concentration, and increased the molar proportions of /.so-butyric, isovaleric and n-valeric acids and protozoa numbers in rumen fluid. PEG supplementation did not affect carcass gain, carcass fatness or the molar proportion of rumen acetic, propionic or n-butyric acids in lambs grazing lotus. It was concluded that the principal effect of CT in growing lambs grazing lotus was to increase wool growth without affecting VFI, thereby increasing the efficiency of wool production, that the greater rate of carcass gain of lambs grazing lotus than those grazing lucerne was mainly caused by factors other than CT and that CT did not affect the rumen fermentation of carbohydrate to major volatile fatty acids.

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Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) is a short-lived perennial legume with an erect growth habit which is grown as a fodder crop in Mediterranean regions but is not common in New Zealand agriculture. Recent experimental work has shown potential benefits of sulla for reducing the impact and numbers of intestinal nematodes in sheep and possible benefits for wool production, so that a feeding trial was undertaken to determine its digestibility. Twelve sheep aged about 6 months were held in metabolism crates and fed sulla as a sole diet for the 20-day experimental period. Sulla contains condensed tannins (CT) so that one group of 6 sheep were given twice-daily oral drenches of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to bind with and deactivate the CT (PEG group) enabling a comparison with the undrenched Tannin group. The dry matter (DM) content of the sulla was 15.5%, comprising (DM basis) 33% leaf, 41% stem, and 26% flower, and all portions of the plant were eaten. The DM contained about 7.2% CT and 3.0% nitrogen (N). DM intakes averaged 1160 g/day and DM digestibility was lower in Tannin animals (70.5%) than those given PEG (72.5%; P = 0.015). Condensed tannin substantially reduced N digestibility (63.1%) relative to those given PEG Received 23 November 1995; accepted 15 February 1996 (77.1%; P < 0.001) and this was associated with a reduction in rumen ammonia concentration ((mol/ ml) in Tannin (155) versus PEG (259) animals. Plasma urea concentrations (umol/ml) were also lower (P < 0.001) in Tannin sheep than in those given PEG (7.4 vs 8.8) which suggests that the CT affected the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients. A95072

Temperate forage legumes that contain condensed tannins (CT) have been evaluated under experimental conditions and some have demonstrated significant benefits for sheep, cattle and deer. Condensed tannins can significantly improve productive performance, as well as lessen our dependence on anthelmintic drenches. However, not all CT are equal and some may not benefit production at all. This paper summarises the performance responses of ruminants to CT in birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), lotus (Lotus pedunculatus), sulla (Hedysarum coronarium), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) and erect dorycnium (Dorycnium rectum), and indicates the requirements for successful establishment and management of these swards. All require specialist care, and few will compete with common pasture species in high-fertility situations, but the potential benefits of reduced anthelmintic requirements when sheep are fed sulla, and the lowered incidence of flystrike and improved weight gain, wool growth, milk production and ovulation rate attributable to the CT in birdsfoot trefoil, makes these attractive options for farmers. Lotus is a high quality feed for wet, acid, low-fertility soils and sainfoin may result in very good stock performance in dry regions. Annual dry matter yields of the five species outlined here range from about 10 to 25 t/ha and some of these forages will benefit producers who are prepared to manage these forages correctly. Keywords: birdsfoot trefoil, condensed tannin, dorycnium, forage legume, lotus, ruminant nutrition, sainfoin, sulla