Effect of tannins and monensin on feeding behaviour, feed intake, digestive parameters and microbial efficiency of nellore cows

This study aimed to evaluate the associative effect of monensin and tannins on intake, feeding behaviour, digestibility, rumen kinetics, microbial protein synthesis and nitrogen balance. In a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement, 8 rumen cannulated Nellore cows were distributed in 2 contemporary 4 × 4 Latin squares and received 8 diets that differed in the level of tannins (0.00, 0.75, 1.50 and 2.25% DM) and presence of monensin. Monensin was daily administered to each cow in one square (about 32 mg/kg DM). No interaction between monensin and tannins was observed (p > .05). Tannins linearly reduced feed intake, but linearly increased daily eating time (p < .05), although these did not alter the number of meals. Monensin increased CP digestibility by 6% (p = .0387) while tannins linearly reduced digestibility of DM, CP, OM and TDN, whereas the reduction was quadratic for ADF and NDF. Tannins linearly reduced the rumen disappearance rate by linearly reducing both passage and digestion rates. Tannins also linearly reduced urinary urea, though neither additive affected microbial protein synthesis. Monensin reduced the proportion of N excreted in faeces, whereas tannins linearly increased faecal N and linearly reduced both urinary and retained N. Monensin and tannins have shown independent effects on feeding behaviour, feed intake, digestive parameters, microbial protein synthesis and N balance, but they did not improve nutrient usage, although monensin alone has shown to have potential to promote N utilisation. Tannins may play an important role in reducing the excretion of N in urine.Highlights Tannins reduce the efficiency of nutrient usage in cattle. Tannins change the pathway of the excretion of the feeding nitrogen. The emission of N2O from the urine may be reduced by the use of tannins in cattle feeding.