Exploring variation in proanthocyanidin composition and content of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia).

BACKGROUND: To maximise the potential benefits to ruminants from sainfoin, plant breeding should focus on developing varieties with predictable condensed tannin (CT) profiles. Little is known about whether and to what extent accession and environment influence sainfoin CT structures. We sought to investigate the likely extent of accession and environment effects on CT characteristics of sainfoin. Four single-flowering (Communis) accessions and two multiple-flowering (Bifera) accessions, grown at three sites and collected at two harvest times were used. Sainfoin CTs were characterised by thiolytic degradation and by high-performance liquid chromatography-gel permeation chromatography (HPLC-GPC). Also, CT concentration measured earlier by the HCl-butanol method was compared with that from thiolysis. RESULTS: Thiolysis revealed that accession and harvest influenced most CT structural attributes. Bifera CTs eluted as single peaks (Mp < 6220 Da) in HPLC-GPC across the two harvests and two sites, whereas Communis generated two to three CT peaks, which included a peak (Mp ≤ 9066 Da) in the second harvest. A discrepancy was observed in CT concentrations measured by the two methods. CONCLUSION: CTs from Bifera accessions had more stable and predictable characteristics across harvests and sites and this could be of interest when breeding sainfoin.

Efecto de la relación proteína y energía sobre los niveles de amonio ruminal y nitrógeno ureico en sangre y leche, de vacas doble propósito del piedemonte llanero, Colombia / Efeito de proteínas e de energia em relação aos níveis de amónio rúmen e da BUN e leite, vacas dupla finalidade do piedemonte llanero, Colômbia / Effect of protein and energy relationship on the levels of ammonium rumen and blood urea nitrogen and milk, in dual purpose cows at the llanero foothills, Colombia

Los efectos de cinco suplementos con diferente relación proteína cruda:energía metabólica (PC:EM) sobre los niveles de nitrógeno amoniacal en rumen (AR) y nitrógeno ureico en sangre (NUS) y leche (NUL), fueron evaluados en vacas doble propósito en el trópico bajo del Piedemonte llanero colombiano, mediante un diseño cuadrado latino 5x5. En el tratamiento 1, los animales recibieron a voluntad forraje de pasto Brachiaria decumbens y 900 g de harina de arroz; en el tratamiento 2 recibieron adicionalmente 39 g de úrea; en el tratamiento 3 recibieron 84 g de úrea; el tratamiento 4 fue similar al tratamiento 2 más 1200 g de azúcar de caña; y el tratamiento 5 fue igual al tratamiento 3 más 950 g de azúcar. La relación PC:EM fue de 26, 66, 103, 27 y 50 g de PC por megacaloría de energía metabólica, respectivamente. Los niveles más altos de AR, NUS y NUL los presentaron el tratamiento 3 (p<0.01), de mayor aporte de proteína y mayor PC:EM, seguido de los tratamientos 5 y 2 de segundo orden de PC y PC:EM. Además, se observó que AR, NUS y NUL están fuertemente afectados por PC:EM. Los niveles de AR, NUS y NUL, presentaron variaciones a través del día y fluctuaron entre 4.3 a 22.9, 4.8 a 13.8 y 3.6 a 16 mg N/dl. A partir de la primera suplementación se observó incremento de los valores de las tres variables, con valores máximos 3 a 6 horas después. Se encontró relación directa NUL = 0.901*NUS con R2 = 0.70, lo que demostró clara dependencia del NUL con respecto al NUS. Los resultados sugieren que la dependencia de estos metabolitos con el contenido de PC y EM de la dieta los convierte en herramientas de ajuste y optimización de suplementos para las ganaderías doble propósito del piedemonte llanero colombiano.

The effects of five diets with different protein to energy ratios (CP:ME) on rumen ammonia (RA) and blood (BUN) and milk úrea nitrogen (MUN) in dual-purpose cows were evaluated in the piedemonte of Colombia. Five rumen fistulated cows were assigned to five treatments using a 5 x 5 Latin Square design. All animals received a basal diet consisting of Brachiaria decumbens �forage ad libitum and 900 g of ground rice (treatment 1); treatment 2 was identical to treatment 1 plus 39 g of urea; treatment 3 was identical to treatment 1 plus 84 g urea; treatment 4 was identical to treatment 2 plus 1200 g of sugar; and treatment 5 was identical to treatment 3 plus 934 g of sugar. The ratio between crude protein and metabolizable energy (CP:ME) was 26, 66, 103, 27 and 50 g /Mcal for treatment 1 to treatment 5, respectively. The highest concentrations of RA, BUN and MUN were observed in treatment 3 (p<0.01), which provided the highest amount of CP and resulted in the highest CP:ME ratio. Treatments 5 and 2, with intermediate amounts of CP and CP:ME ratios, resulted in intermediate levels of RA, BUN and MUN. The levels of RA, BUN and MUN varied considerably across the day and ranged from 4.3 to 22.9, 4.8 to 13.8 and 3.6 to 16 mg/dl, respectively. The highest levels of RA, BUN and MUN occurred 3 to 6 hours after the first feeding of the day. There was a close positive relationship between MUN and BUN (MUN = 0.901*BUN, R2 = 0.70). It can be concluded that the levels of BUN and MUN are closely related to the CP concentration and the CP:ME ratio in the diet. These metabolites represent a useful tool to monitor and adjust the use of supplements for dual-purpose cows fed diets based on low-quality grasses in the Llanero foothills of Colombia.

Os efeitos de cinco diferentes relações com suplementos de proteína bruta: energia metabólica (PC : MS) sobre os níveis de nitrogênio no rúmen (RA) e da BUN (NUS) e leite (NUL), foram avaliadas em vacas dupla finalidade nos trópicos sob o piedemonte llanero colombiano, através de um quadrado latino 5 x 5. No tratamento 1, os animais receberam em gramíneas forrageiras irá Brachiaria decumbens e 900 gramas de farinha de arroz; no tratamento 2, recebido mais 39 gramas de uréia; para o tratamento 3, recebido 84 gramas de uréia; no tratamento 4 foi semelhante ao tratamento 2 mais 1200 g de cana-de-açúcar; eo tratamento 5 era igual a 3 tratamento mais 950 g de açúcar. O PC MS foi de 26, 66, 103, 27 e 50 g PC megacaloría energia metabólica, respectivamente. Os níveis mais elevados de AR, NUS e NUL apresentou o tratamento 3 (p <0,01), maior aporte de proteína e superior PC MS, seguido pelos tratamentos 2 e 5 de segunda ordem PC e PC:MS. Além disso, observou-se que AR, NUS e NUL são fortemente influenciados pelo PC:MS. Níveis de AR, NUS e NUL, apresentaram variações ao longo do dia, e variou de 4.3 a 22.9, 13.8 e 4.8 a 3.6 a 16 mg N/dl. Desde a primeira suplementação foi observado aumento dos valores mobiliários das três variáveis, com valores máximos de 3 a 6 horas depois. Nós encontramos uma relação direta NUL = 0.901 * NUS com R2 = 0.70, o que mostrou clara dependência NUL no que respeita à NUS. Os resultados sugerem que a dependência em relação a estes metabolitos com o conteúdo do PC e MS dieta torna-os instrumentos de regulação e otimização de suplementos de rebanhos dupla finalidade de piedemonte llanero colombiano.

Effect of feeding dehydrated and ensiled tanniferous sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) on nitrogen and mineral digestion and metabolism of lambs.

The effects of tanniferous sainfoin on digestion and metabolism have been investigated in 12 lambs in an incomplete cross-over design (n = 6). Effects of condensed tannins (CT) were evaluated by comparing dehydrated and ensiled sainfoin treated with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG). Dehydrated and ensiled grass-clover mixtures served as controls. The lambs were fed the treatment diets, including a mineral supplement, for 21 d. During the last 7 d excreta, rumen fluid and blood were sampled. The CT of sainfoin decreased rumen fluid ammonia concentration (p < 0.001) and increased the plasma concentration mainly of essential amino acids (p < 0.001). Body retention of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium was lower with sainfoin compared to PEG-treated sainfoin (p < 0.05). Sainfoin without PEG resulted in lower digestibilities of organic matter and neutral detergent fibre than sainfoin with PEG and the grass-clover mixture (p < 0.001). Ensiling of sainfoin led to the lowest N-retention. In conclusion, the reduction in ruminal ammonia and urine-N losses by sainfoin CT did not improve N-retention.