Influence of Pine Bark Tannin on Bacterial Pathogens Growth and Nitrogen Compounds on Changes in Composted Poultry Litter

Abstract

To study the antimicrobial and uric acid-preserving activity of pine bark tannin on poultry litter composting, antibiotic-free wood chipbased poultry litter was distributed (11 g) to 50-mL conical centrifuge tubes and immediately amended with 1.3 mL0.4 M sodium phosphate buffer (control) or with 1.3 mL condensed tannins from pine bark (Pinus palustris; 9 % tannin wt/vol in water). All tubes (n = 3 tubes/treatment) were inoculated with a novobiocin and naladixic acid-resistant Salmonella typhimurium (STNN) to achieve 3.0 log 10 CFU/g and incubated at 37 o C for 3 days to simulate an initial compost period. Wildtype E. coli and the challenge STNN strain as well as concentrations of ammonia, uric acid and urea were measured on days 0 and 3. Pine bark tannin treatment decreased (p<0.01) STNN populations in the litter by 0.6 log units compared to the controls. Wildtype E. coli populations were unaffected by tannin treatment (p>0.05). Ammonia accumulation decreased (p<0.01) 23% in tannin-treated litter compared to the control (2.8 ± 0.1 µmol/g). Conversely, the residual uric acid concentration was 1.6-fold higher (p=0.02) in litter treated with the pine bark tannin than in the control litter. Urea concentrations were unaffected by tannin treatment (p>0.05). Results suggest that pine bark tannin treatment may preserve uric acid and reduce ammonia volatilization in composted litter while aiding Salmonella control.

Effect of Select Tannin Sources on Pathogen Control and Microbial Nitrogen Metabolism in Composted Poultry Litter Intended for Use as a Ruminant Crude Protein Feedstuff

“…Contrary to that observed by Arzola-Alvarez et al ( 11 ), beneficial effects of the tannin treatments on uric acid accumulation were not observed in the first simulated compost experiment. There was a tendency, however, for greater retention of urea in the compost treated with 0.63% chestnut tannin when compared to untreated compost and in the composts treated with pine bark, quebracho, or mimosa tannins.…”

“…While tannins have been reported to exert antimicrobial activities against S. typhimurium, E. coli, and other microbes when applied in a number of different applications (11,(21)(22)(23)(24), results from the first simulated composting experiment revealed that treatment of litter with 0.63% tannin achieved only a marginal improvement in antimicrobial activity. For instance, the 0.63% tannin treatments achieved less than a 1 log 10 increase in anti-S. typhimurium activity in composts treated with quebracho tannin.…”

“…More recently, lignite addition to poultry litter increased total nitrogen by 25% and achieved >60% increase in mineral nitrogen ( 10 ). Arzola-Alvarez et al ( 11 ) reported that the inclusion of pine bark tannin in composting poultry litter decreased ammonia losses by 23% and increased uric acid concentrations by 63% during 3 days of composting. The pine bark tannin and some of the nitrocompound treatments also accelerated anti- Salmonella activity, achieving significant, albeit modest, decreases in Salmonella counts by 3 days of composting when compared to controls, although this may be of limited benefit as effectively managed composts usually eliminate Salmonella after 14 days of composting if not earlier ( 12 , 13 ).…”

Tannin in Ruminant Nutrition: Review

“…Still, they are responsible for various biological activities. Tannins can prevent ruminal nitrogen metabolism by decreasing proteolytic bacteria [ 5 , 6 ]. Moreover, they can reduce the ruminal bio-hydrogenation process and increase the flow of unsaturated fatty acids to the duodenum [ 7 ].…”