Potential and challenges of tannins as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics for farm animal production

Huang, Qianqian; Liu, Xiuli; Zhao, Guoqi; Hu, Tianming; Wang, Yuxi

There are a few studies that assessed several other sources of tannins for monogastric animals. Iji et al. (2004) reported that addition of mimosa (Mimosa pudica) tannin extract (CT) to broiler diets at the levels of 0.5%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5% reduced feed intake and body weight gain but improved feed efficiency at the levels less than 1.5%. Birds fed tannin supplemented diets also reduced ileal digestibilities of energy, protein and amino acids. However, no negative effect was observed on pancreatic and jejunal enzymes activities. Cappai et al. (2014) found that supplementing acorn (Quercus pubescens Willd.) HT at the dietary level of 0.516 tannic acid equivalent/kg diets did not affect feed intake or gastric mucosa but improved feed efficiency. Red quebracho (Schinopsis lorentzii) CT was assessed for its effects on decreasing coccidiosis in E. tenella challenged broilers (Cejas et al., 2011) . The study revealed that addition of 10% quebracho CT extract increased body weight gain of challenged birds, increased crypt:villi ratio of the intestine and decreased oocyst excretion. This study suggest that quebracho CT could be a potential prophylactic anti-coccidials agent. Zotte and Cossu, 2009 also found that 1% and 3% of red quebracho tannins improved significantly weight gain and feed conversion of rabbits in a 6-week feeding trial.