Rumen protozoa population and carbohydrate-digesting enzymes in sheep fed a diet supplemented with hydrolysable tannins

Abstract The aim of the study was to compare the effect of adding different sources of hydrolysable tannins to the sheep diet on protozoa population and carbohydrate digestion in the rumen. The study was performed in 3 Polish Lowland ewes fistulated to the rumen in a 3 × 3 Latin square design. Control sheep (CON) received (g/d): meadow hay (600), barley meal (300), soybean meal (100) and vitamin-mineral premix (20). Sheep from the experimental groups were additionally administered 12.6 g/kg DM oak bark extract (OAK) and 3.91 g/kg DM tannic acid (TAN ). The net consumption of tannins was approx. 0.4% DM for both additives. Regarding the count of protozoa, a significant interaction between diet and sampling time was documented for all ciliates (P<0.01), with a significant effect of both factors when considered separately. Experimental diets reduced the number of total protozoa and Entodinium spp. (before feeding, 2 and 4 h after feeding; P<0.01), while increasing the abundance of Isotricha spp. population (4 h after feeding; P<0.01) in the rumen. Interestingly, the count of Ophryoscolex spp. after feeding the TAN diet increased before feeding and 2 h after feeding in comparison to the CON and OAK groups, respectively, and subsequently decreased compared to the CON diet (4 and 8 h after feeding, P<0.01). A significant interaction between the diet and sampling time was observed for xylanolytic activity (P<0.01) in the rumen, with a significant effect of sampling time, which decreased its activity in CON (after feeding) and OAK sheep (2 h after feeding; P<0.01). For amylolytic activity (P<0.10), there was a trend towards a significant interaction between experimental factors, with a significant effect on both diet and sampling time. Detailed analysis showed that the TAN diet significantly reduced amylolytic activity 2 h after feeding compared to the CON group (P<0.05). In conclusion, the TAN diet significantly reduced the number of total protozoa and Entodinium spp., which consequently reduced amylolytic activity in the rumen, without any significant effect on pH and carbohydrate fermentation in the rumen.