Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology

In order to assess the effect of condensed tannins (CT) through tanniferous tree leaves on erythrocytic antioxidant status and GI nematodes, indigenous kids (n=18) were randomly divided into 3 groups of 6 each and fed iso-nitrogenous diets to contain 0 (CT-0), 1.0 (CT-1) and 2.0 (CT-2)% CT through a dried and ground leaf meal mixture of Ficus infectoria, Psidium guajava and Ficus bengalensis. Blood-biochemical profile and erythrocytic antioxidant status was monitored in all the kids at 0, 40, 80 and 120d of feeding. Supplementation of CT upto 2.0% of diet for 120d showed a significant (P<0.001) improvement on the performance of kids. Total BW gain and ADG were higher (P<0.001) in both CT supplemented groups than control. Feed conversion ratio was higher (P<0.001) in CT-2 followed by CT-1 and CT-0, respectively. Haemoglobin, PCV, serum glucose, total protein were similar among the dietary treatments except for a reduction (P<0.01) in serum urea level in CT-fed kids. There was improvement (P<0.05) in erythrocytic antioxidant status n the CT supplemented groups evident from increased concentrations of superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, catalase and total thiol groups concomitant to a reduction in lipid peroxidation as compared to the control. Feeding of CT containing diets up to 2.0% level significantly (P<0.05) decreased the faecal egg counts when compared with the control group. It may be concluded that a mixture of tree leaves (containing 1–2% CT) has the potential to improve antioxidant status with an apparent negative impact on GI nematodes in kids.