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Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

DOI

10.3906/vet-1901-80

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tannin extract and n-3 fatty acid supplementation on nutrient digestibility, ruminal parameters, blood metabolites, and enzyme activity in lactating ewes. Thirty-six lactating ewes were allocated to 6 experimental groups. The dietary treatments were as follows: 1) control, 2) diet supplemented with 2% dry matter (DM) oak leaf tannin extract, 3) diet supplemented with 2% DM grape pomace tannin extract, 4) diet supplemented with 2% DM linseed oil, 5) diet supplemented with 2% DM oak leaf tannin extract and 2% DM linseed oil, and 6) diet supplemented with 2% DM grape pomace tannin extract and 2% DM linseed oil. The results showed the significant effects of treatments on final body weight, digestibility, and some blood metabolites (P < 0.05). Therefore, the treatment groups had higher final body weight, better nutrient digestibility, and higher values of blood parameters. In conclusion, our results showed that the dietary tannin extract and the n-3 fatty acid source improved nutrient digestibility and blood metabolites, and they had a trend of improving the ruminal volatile fatty acid profile while not having any adverse effects on the animals' performance.

Keywords

Grape pomace, linseed oil, oak leaves, lactating ewe

First Page

724

Last Page

732

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