Use of tannin extract as a strategy to reduce methane in Nellore and Holstein cattle and its effect on intake, digestibility, microbial efficiency and ruminal fermentation

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the use of tannin extract from Acacia mearnsii as a strategy to reduce methane (CH4) in two distinct cattle genotypes and its effect on intake, digestibility, microbial efficiency and ruminal fermentation. Four Nellore (Bos indicus) and four Holstein (Bos taurus) dry cows fitted with rumen cannula were assigned to two 4 × 4 Latin square design, in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement, where each genotype represented a square receiving four tannin levels (commercial extract of A. mearnsii) in the diet (0%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% of dry matter). Tannin levels used did not cause a reduction in feed intake or rumen passage rate for both genotypes (p > 0.05), although there was a linear reduction in the degradation rate and ruminal disappearance of diet (p < 0.05). The increase in tannin levels reduced the amount of entodiniomorph protozoa in the Nellore cattle (p < 0.05). There was no change in N retention or microbial efficiency (p > 0.05), despite the linear reduction of nutrient digestibility and the synthesis of microbial nitrogen (p < 0.05). The ruminal CH4 production was reduced (p < 0.05) without reducing the short‐chain fatty acid production. The threshold of 0.72% of tannin in the diet was estimated as the starting point for the reduction of ruminal CH4 production with long‐term efficacy. Therefore, the use of low levels of tannin extract from A. mearnsii is a potential option to manipulate rumen fermentation in Nellore and Holstein cattle and needs to be further investigated.

Tannin-based product in feedlot diet as a strategy to reduce enteric methane emissions of Nellore cattle finished under tropical conditions

“…Although in the present study DMI increased by about 7% between growing and fattening periods (data from methane collection periods), CH 4 emission only increased about 3% in bulls fed with TAN vs. CON between these periods. Several studies have reported the positive effects of tannin-based additives in decreasing CH 4 emissions by ruminants ( Min et al, 2020 ; Orzuna-orzuna et al, 2021 ; Fitri et al, 2022 ; Perna Junior et al, 2022 ). Plant tannins have a recognized effect on the gut microbiota through their antibacterial activity ( Tong et al, 2022 ), where this effect is hypothesized due to its interaction with specific substrates, such as protein and bacterial cell walls ( Bae et al, 1993 ).…”

Pigeon Pea Intercropped with Tropical Pasture as a Mitigation Strategy for Enteric Methane Emissions of Nellore Steers

“…As the level of CT found here for all treatments was below this value, no negative effect was seen on the consumption of the diet, as other authors have shown when using diets with similar CT contents, irrespective of the plant used [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. In addition, according to Perna Junior et al [ 58 ], values of around 20 to 45 g CT/kg DM are sufficient to interfere in the digestive process of ruminants.…”

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“…Several studies have demonstrated that CH4 mitigation by CT both in vitro and in vivo is related to a decrease of methanogenic Archaea communities (TAVENDALE et al, 2005;BHATTA et al, 2009;TAN et al, 2011;CIESLAK et al, 2012;TSEU et al, 2020;PERNA JUNIOR et al, 2022). Tan et al (2011) found that a CT inclusion of 20 to 31 60 g kg -1 DM resulted in a linear reduction in total methanogens with a corresponding decrease in CH4 production.…”