Plant fibers are an important component of animal feed, and the effective degradation of fiber materials is crucial for the health of ruminant animals. Chestnut tannin (CHT) can effectively enhance the antioxidant capacity of animals and reduce methane emissions; however, there is currently limited research on its effect on fiber degradation rate in ruminant animals. This study investigated the effects of different concentrations of CHT on ruminal cellulose-degrading bacteria and cellulase activity in sheep through both in vivo and in vitro experiments. Our results indicated that the supplementation of CHT inhibits ruminal fiber degradation by directly suppressing the growth and activity of cellulose-degrading bacteria. Therefore, future studies should focus on identifying optimal CHT supplementation levels that can balance their beneficial effects while minimizing the adverse impacts on fiber degradation.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.