Tannins and flavonoids as feed additives in the diet of ruminants to improve performance and quality of the derived products. A review

Leila Sultanayeva, Saeid Karkehabadi, Galia Zamaratskaia, Yuriy Balji

Abstract: Meat consumption is one of the major drivers contributing to the growth of the global animal nutrition market. Subsequently, the demand on quality of animal feed increases. Because of growing public concern about the use of pharmaceuticals in livestock production, the application of natural agents, such as tannins and flavonoids, with a potential to improve animal health and animal food product has become more desirable. The present review summarize and analyse plant derived bioactive compounds as a feed additive in the diet of cows, sheep and goats, mainly emphasizing recently published data. Particular attention has been paid to tannins and flavonoids. We concluded that animal performance and quality of the derived products can be improved by using feed additives, such as tannins and flavonoids. All the same, high doses of some compounds might reduce voluntary dry matter intake and digestion of nutrients and cause toxicity. Thus, more research is needed to fully exploit benefits of incorporating tannins and flavonoids in livestock feed and identify an optimal dose to obtain consistent beneficial effects of additives.

Keywords: animal feed; bioactive compounds; feed additives; food quality; productivity

Date published: 2023-06-28