Potential of tannin‐rich plants, Leucaena leucocephala, Glyricidia sepium and Manihot esculenta, to reduce enteric methane emissions in sheep

Abstract

An in vivo trial was conducted in sheep to investigate the effect of three tropical tannin-rich plants (TRP) on methane emission, intake and digestibility. The TRP used were leaves of Glyricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala and Manihot esculenta that contained, respectively, 39, 75 and 92 g condensed tannins/kg DM. Methane was determined with the sulphur hexafluoride tracer technique. Eight rumen-cannulated sheep of two breeds (four Texel, four Blackbelly) were used in two 4 × 4 Latin square designs. Four experimental diets were tested. They consisted in a tropical natural grassland hay based on Dichanthium spp. fed alone (C) or in association with G. sepium (G), L. leucocephala (L) or M. esculenta (M) given as pellets at 44% of the daily ration. Daily organic matter intake was higher in TRP diets (686, 984, 1054 and 1186 g/day for C, G, L and M respectively; p < 0.05) while apparent organic matter total tract digestibility was not affected (69.9%, 62.8%, 65.3% and 64.7% for C, G, L and M respectively; p > 0.05). Methane emission was 47.1, 44.9, 33.3 and 33.5 g/kg digestible organic matter intake for C, G, L and M, respectively, and was significantly lower (p < 0.05) for L and M than for G and C. Our results confirm the potential of some TRP to reduce methane production. The strong decrease in methane and the increase in intake with TRPs may be due to their presentation as pellets.

Effects of different sources and levels of tannins on live performance and antioxidant response of Ossimi lambs

“…Regarding lambs performance, the total DMI of animals fed 60 g/kg PP (T1) was the lowest followed by T3, T2 and the control group, respectively. Similar results obtained by Archimede et al (2016) who indicated that DMI was reduced with tannin-rich plants in the diet. This finding agrees with a previous study (Ngwa et al, 2003) who observed that tannins usually decreased palatability and preference of plants by cattle, sheep and goats.…”

“…Similar results observed by Beauchemin et al (2007) who concluded that tannin extract had no effect on DM, energy or fibre (ADF and NDF) digestibility, but apparent digestibility of CP decreased linearly. Also Archimede et al (2016) revealed that using tanninrich plants in sheep diet did not affect apparent OM digestibility.…”

Effects of Hippophae rhamnoides L. Leaf and Marc Extract with Reduced Tannin Concentration on the Health and Growth Parameters of Newborn Calves

“…HT are potentially toxic to ruminants. Metabolites (like pyrogallol) produced as a result of the degradation of HT by ruminal microbes are hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic [12,15]. Such effects are observed when rats receive AHL in doses of 1g/kg body weight or more.…”

“…They stimulate salivation and make feed unpalatable [14]. Animals do not like to eat tannin-rich feed, they lose live weight and productivity [14,15]. In non-ruminants, tannins reduce absorption of essential amino acids (especially methionine), lipids in intestines and reduce body weight gain [14,16,17].…”

Quantifying ruminal fermentation and methane production using the in vitro gas technique in the forages of a sheep silvopastoral system in Chiapas, Mexico

“…Los tratamientos que tuvieron mezclas de los alimentos usados, como D5GLMPM, D3GM, D1LM, D2LMP y D4GMP, presentaron valores intermedios (P>0.05). De los tratamientos con dietas mixtas de energía y proteína, la dieta D5GLMPM tuvo el menor valor de producción de CH4, mostrando la importancia de la inclusión de forrajes asociada entre carbohidratos (45,46) . Estos autores resaltan que el tipo de carbohidratos determina la taza de pasaje, afectando la producción de CH4 por gramo de sustrato digerido.…”