Use of tannins as organic protectants of proteins in digestion of ruminants.

Abstract

Protection of proteins is essential for productive ruminants, where the protein requirement of these animals cannot be met from microbial protein synthesis. There has been considerable interest in reducing ruminal degradation of proteins. There is a growing interest in the possible use of Condensed Tannins (CT) as protectant of protein in the ration of animals. Tannins are a heterogeneous group of high molecular weight phenolic compounds and divided into two groups: the condensed and the hydrolysable tannins. The high affinity of tannins for proteins is due to the presence of great number of phenolic groups. These provide many points at which bonding may occur with the carbonyl groups of peptides. The tannins are widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom. There is an increasing demand at the consumer level for organic animal products like milk and meat. Tannins as organic protein protectants can be used at safer levels in livestock farming for sustaining the production and health of domestic ruminants.