Influence of supplemental condensed tannins on initial 112-d feedlot growth-performance and characteristics of digestion of calf-fed Holstein steers.

In experiment 1, 150 calf-fed Holstein steers (119 ± 6 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of level of supplemental condensed tannin (0, 14, and 28 g/kg diet DM) in a conventional steam-flaked corn-based growing-finishing diet on feedlot growth performance. There were no treatment effects on growth performance during the initial 56-d period. However, during the subsequent 56-d period, supplemental condensed tannin tended to increase average daily gain (ADG; linear effect, = 0.09). The increase in ADG was consistent with the tendency for increased dry matter intake (DMI; linear effect, = 0.08). Hence, differences in gain efficiency during the second 56-d period were not appreciably affected ( = 0.80). Supplemental condensed tannin did not affect overall (112-d) ADG, DMI, gain efficiency, or dietary NE. In a second experiment, six Holstein steers (179.4 ± 7.9 kg) with cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design to evaluate treatment effects on characteristics of ruminal and total tract digestion. Treatments were the same as in Trial 1. Tannin supplementation decreased (linear effect, = 0.03) ruminal OM digestion and tended to decrease (linear effect, = 0.06) ruminal feed N degradation. Tannin supplementation decreased (linear effect, = 0.03) ruminal pH, but did not affect ( > 0.20) ruminal molar proportions of volatile fatty acids and estimated methane production. In current study, supplemental tannin had marginal effects on overall growth performance of calf-fed Holstein steers, but reduced ruminal, postruminal, and total tract nitrogen digestion.