1. Benefits using sweet chestnut tannin in dairy cow nutrition
International Dairy Workshop & Exhibition, Izmir, Turkey, April 28-29th, 2008
Benefits using sweet chestnut tannin in dairy cow nutrition
University of Ljubljana
Dep. Animal Science
Slovenia

2. Formation of insoluble complexes between proteins and tannins
In reticulo-rumen:
Formation of insoluble complexes between proteins and tannins
Partial inactivation of microorganisms
Partial inactivation of enzymes
In abomasum and small intestine:
1. Disintegration of insoluble complexes between proteins and tannins
2. Release of proteins and gallic acid

3. Tannin-protein complexes (effect of pH)
Jones and Mangan, 1977

4. Effect of tannins on the production of ammonia and degradability of dry substance in vitro (regression coefficients of equation a + bx)
Chestnut extract
Ammonia
a 65,25
b -5,14
IVDMDeg
a 70,59
b -3,17
IVDMDig
a 88,53
b -0,46
Gonzalez in sod., 2002

5. Effect of chestnut tannins on in vitro gas production and methanogenesis from starch
Chestnut extract (mg/ml)
Total potential gas
production (ml) 528a 505b 511b 508b
Maximum fermentation
rate (ml/h) 50.6a 42.1b 58.0a 43.8b
Time of maximum
fermentation rate (h) 8.9a 13.8b 8.9a 10.0ab
Methane (ml/g DM) 18.9a 18.7a 16.6b 13.5c
Metan (vol %) 4.8a 4.7b 4.5c 4.2d
Sivka and Lavrenčič, 2007

6. Effective degradability of N (r = 0,05) of ground (G) and pelleted (P) soybean meal crude protein treated with chestnut tannins
Lavrenčič et al., 2001

7. Evolution of in vitro ammonia concentration (mmol/l)
Sliwinski et al., 2001

8. Daily evolution of pH value: feeding at 8:00 AM
Northwest Engineering

9. Effect of chestnut tannins on milk yield (Errante et al., 1998)
Tmax = 28°C
Tmin = 17,5°C
Differences in milk yield were not significant, except when the extreme temperature differences occurred (July 12th; Tmax-Tmin>10°C); average differnece in milk yield is 1,5 litres of milk

10. Effect of chestnut tannins on milk protein contents (Orešnik, 1996)

11. Effect of chestnut tannins on milk production and composition
Control Chestnut Control Chestnut
tannin tannin
Milk production (kg)
Protein content (%)
Urea content (mg/l)
Lavrenčič and Suhoveršnik, 2006

12. Effect of FARMATAN on early weaned calves
Number of animals: 62 early weaned Brown-swiss bulls (31 in control and 31 in trial group)
Duration of trial: 3 months
Farmantan*: 5 kg/t compound feed (prestarter, starter)
* Farmatan with 55% of active substance
Source: M. Štruklec, A. Orešnik, Biotechnical Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 1997

13. Nitrogen fractions (%) in grass silages prepared with chestnut tanninsab b a b c c
Lavrenčič and Levart, 2006 a b c c

14. Chestnut tannin (g/kg fresh grass) 0 3 15 30
Contents of volatile fatty acids (g/kg DM) in grass silages prepared with different amounts of chestnut extract
Chestnut tannin (g/kg fresh grass)
Lactic acid 101,1a 95,8a 80,6b 80,9b
Acetic acid 17,9 15,8 11,6 16,8
Propionic acid 0,09 0,08 0,09 0,08
Butyric acid 1,31 1,21 0,16 0,09
pH 3,85ab 3,78b 3,84ab 3,92a
Lavrenčič and Levart, 2006

15. Important advantages in ruminants nutrition
chestnut tannins:
- improve milk persistence (increase milk yield)
- increase milk protein yield
- lower the milk urea concentration
- improve silage fermentation process and increase protein
utilization from silage
- lower the incidence of gastrointestinal and digestive disorders

16. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE USE OF FARMATAN IN RUMINANT NUTRITION
RUMINANTS
Dosages
Dairy cows
2 – 5 kg/ton of compound feed
5 – 10 g/day per animal – starch containing diets
5 – 20 g/day per animal – maize silage containing diets
10 – 20 g/day per animal – soluble protein containing diets
20 – 40 g/day per animal – in stress conditions
Fattening
15 – 30 g/day per animal
0,3 % of protein content in supplemental compound feeds
Small ruminants
(sheep, goat)
3 – 5 kg/ton of compound feed
1,5 – 10 g/day per animal
Calves (rearing, white meat production)
1 – 3 kg/ton of compound feed
3 – 5 g/day per animal