In vitro effects of and interactions between tannins and saponins and fate of tannins in the rumen

Abstract

The rate of fermentation of hay was not affected by purified tannins from Ouercus incana and Dichostachys cinerea at 0.13 mg ml−1 of the in vitro medium whereas a decrease of 4% in the rate was observed for Acioa barteri tannins at this level. At 0.23 mg and 0.47 mg of tannins per ml, the decrease in rate varied from 4 to 13% and 13 to 20%, respectively. The decrease in in vitro true digestibility of dry matter was 3, 6 and 7% for Q incana, D cinerea and A barteri, respectively, at a tannin concentration of 0.47 mg ml−1, and 17, 21 and 27%, respectively, at 0.93 mg ml−1. There was no change in the potential extent of digestion up to 0.47 mg ml−1 for any of the tannins studied. These results suggested that the rate of digestion is affected to a greater extent than the potential extent of digestion or the in vitro true digestibility and that different tannins even at the same level have different degrees of effect. Tannin‐saponin interactions were studied using tannic acid (TA), quebracho tannin (QT) and quillaja saponin (S) at different concentrations (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg ml−1) alone and in combination with each other. The decrease in the rate of digestion and true digestibility was additive when both the TA and the S were present. Similar results were obtained when TA was replaced by QT except that the effects with QT were more marked as compared to TA at the same concentration. Saponins had little effect on the potential extent of digestion and true digestibility. These tannins also decreased the production of short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) and their molar proportions (acetate decreased whereas propionate increased). Efficiency of microbial protein synthesis, expressed as the ratio of 15 N incorporation per unit of SCFA production, was higher with both S and the tannins studied. A substantial amount (71–93%) of tannins soluble in aqueous acetone was released from leaves of some trees and shrubs on incubation in the in vitro medium for 48 h. The rumen liquor was not capable of degrading oligomeric condensed tannins.