Zootechnical performance of lambs fed different levels of black wattle tanin extract

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different levels of black wattle tannin extract on the intake, performance, and carcass characteristics of lambs in confinement. Forty uncastrated, 50-day-old, Texel x Ile de France male lambs were used. The treatments consisted of the following five levels of added tannin extract (percentage of total dry matter in the diet): 0 (control), 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0%. A quadratic effect was observed for the intake of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, total carbohydrates, non-structural carbohydrates, and total digestible nutrients, as well as for average daily weight gain, whose maximum value was 0.303 kg at the level of 1.6% tannin extract. There was also a quadratic effect for hot and cold carcass yields, subcutaneous fat thickness, fat content, and carcass conformation. The level of 1.6% black wattle tannin extract is recommended to be added to the total dry matter of the diet of lambs in confinement due to the obtained highest weight gains, higher dry matter and nutrient intake, and greater average daily gain, which improve the body condition score and conformation at slaughter of the animals.