Effects of Plant Tannin Extracts Supplementation on Animal Performance and Gastrointestinal Parasites Infestation in Steers Grazing Winter Wheat

B. R. Min^1,2, K. Hernandez³, W. E. Pinchak^1*, R. C. Anderson⁴, J. E. Miller⁵, E. Valencia³

¹Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Vernon, USA.
²Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, USA.
³College of Agricultural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
⁴United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, Food and Feed Safety Research Unit, College Station, USA.
⁵Department of Pathological Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojas.2015.53038                

Abstract

Twenty-six stocker cattle (286.1 ± 25.7 kg) were used to quantify the effect of commercial plant tannin extracts (control vs. mimosa and chestnut tannins) on animal performance, gastrointestinal parasites control and plasma metabolite changes in heifers grazing winter wheat forage (Triticum aestivum L. var. “cutter”). The forage biomass and crude protein content were generally similar among treatments. Initial live-weight (LW) was similar among treatments, although final LW (P = 0.1) and average daily gain (ADG; P < 0.01) differed. Logarithmic (log) fecal egg counts (FEC) for Haemonchus contortus was higher (P < 0.02) for mimosa tannins group than for control group, and chestnut tannins group was intermediate in cattle grazing wheat forage on day 35. Logarithmic FEC for Ostertagia was lower (P < 0.05) for chestnut tannins group than for both control and mimosa tannins group on day 41. However, log FEC for Cooperia was lower (P < 0.04) for mimosa tannins than for both control and chestnut tannins group. Blood parameters were similar among treatments, except cholesterol level on day 70. Blood cholesterol level was higher (P < 0.02) for chestnut tannins group than for control, and intermediate for mimosa tannins. However, cholesterol level was similar among treatment after 20 days cessation of tannins treatments. Our data suggest that heifers grazing winter wheat forage supplemented with plant tannins rather than control (non-tannins group) increased ADG (8% to 19%) for mimosa and chestnut tannins groups, respectively with no detectable detrimental effects on animal health. The increase in ADG may be due to decrease fecal parasites infections.

Keywords

Average Daily Gain, Gastrointestinal Parasites, Steer, Tannins

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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