The use of tannins in animal feed and more generally in zootechnics is a topic discussed and documented in the scientific-veterinary literature. For some years now, interesting properties are known that allow the tannin to play a decisive role in the improvement of digestive processes and in the prevention of certain diseases.
The tannins used for the livestock animals food, in addition to improving their quality of life, their productivity, tend to guarantee even greater nutritional quality to the food of derivation Animal intended for human consumption. The chemical and organoleptic characteristics of tannins, interesting from the zootechnical point of view, are the astringent, antiparasitic and disinfectant properties, as well as the ability to complexate proteins.
A few years ago, in a program financed directly by the European Union (tannin stracture qtl), the role of tannins in feed for ruminant animals was studied, with very encouraging results. European scientists have focused on the analysis of tannins and their pesticide effect in feed for intensive farm animals, reaching the conclusion that thanks to tannins it is possible to create a more sustainable diet For ruminants within the EU countries.
A choice that improves the quality of animal life and can even allow players in the chain to improve their relationship with the market. A new sensitivity towards foodstuffs of animal origin is rapidly spreading. More and more consumers declare, in fact, to read carefully the identity cards of the meat they buy as food, checking the specifications relating to the type of rearing, the feeding stuffs used, the possible use of antibiotics that Could compromise the quality of the meat. Moreover, the saying says “We are what we eat”.
For this reason, many companies that are involved in the production of feed for livestock have intercepted a new need, finding in tannins a sustainable solution of proven efficacy. The tannins are precious allies for animal nutrition, because they act on the metabolism of the animal, in a completely natural way.
The tannins, which as we know do not require any chemical to be extracted, contain sugars, mineral salts, cellulose. They have an interesting astringent effect and facilitate the assimilation of the nutrients contained in the ration, improve their productivity by decreasing the intestinal peristalsis. The tannins, therefore, have a positive effect on the immune system of the animals bred and improve their health and their vitality.