Animal Science Abstract
The effects of graded levels of dietary tannin on the epithelial tissue of the gastro-intestinal tract and liver and kidney masses of Boer goats
K. R. Mbatha1, C. T. Downs1,A and I. V. Nsahlai2
ACorresponding author e-mail: downs@nu.ac.za
1School of Botany and Zoology, and2School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, University of Natal, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the effects of different levels of dietary tannin on gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) histology and on liver and kidney masses. Five groups of Boer goats were given diets containing 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g/kg of tannin for 6 weeks before data collection. Differences in the histopathology of the oesophagus, reticulum, rumen, omasum, abomasum and duodenum were evaluated. Increased dietary tannin levels induced thickening and/or keratinization of epithelial tissue in the reticulum, rumen, omasum and abomasum. Increased tannin levels also resulted in a loss of epithelial cells, erosion of microvilli and shortened villi height in the duodenum, which could impair the absorption of nutrients. Consequently, condensed tannins had a negative effect on the histopathology of the Boer goats.
Keywords: bacteria, digestive tract, goats, histology, tannins
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