Tannin binding agents. Comparison of the effects of various tannin binding agents on nutritive value of leaves of tropical tannin rich fodder trees

Scientific Study from the year 2012 in the subject Biology - Botany, , language: English, abstract: The study report here was undertaken to evaluate the nutritive value of leaves from tannin rich tropical multipurpose tree species with or without various tannin binding agents (TBAs). The studied species included Albizia gummifera, Carissa edulis, Draceana steudneri, Ficus sycomorus, Grewia ferruginea, Millettia ferruginea, Prunus africana, Rhus glutinosa, Syzygium guineense and Ekebergia capensis. Six independent samples per species were collected separately. The species were subjected to proximate, detergent and polyphenolic analysis. Dry matter and organic matter digestibility (DMD & OMD) of the plant leaves were determined following two stage in vitro enzymatic analysis. Dried plant species were incubated in two runs with three replications per run with rumen liquid collected from three Boran Holstein-Friesian crossbred steers and gas production measured at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 32, 48, 58, 72 and 96 h of incubation.