Effects of Chestnut Tannin Extract on Enteric Methane Emissions, Blood Metabolites and Lactation Performance in Mid-Lactation Cows

Abstract

Dietary tannin supplementation represents a potential strategy to modulate rumen fermentation and enhance lactation performance in dairy cows, though responses remain inconsistent. A 21-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of chestnut tannin (CNT) extract on the enteric methane emissions (EME), blood metabolites, and milk production traits in mid-lactation dairy cows. Thirty-six Holstein cows were allocated to three homogeneous treatment groups: control (CNT₀, 0 g/d CNT), CNT₄₀ (40 g/d CNT), and CNT₈₀ (80 g/d CNT). Measurements of EME, dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield (MY), and blood and milk parameters were carried out pre- and post-21-day supplementation period. Compared with the no-additive group, the CNT extract reduced methane production, methane yield, and methane intensity in CNT₄₀ and CNT₈₀ (p < 0.001). CNT₄₀ and CNT₈₀ cows exhibited lower blood urea nitrogen (p = 0.019 and p = 0.002) and elevated serum insulin (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001) and growth hormone concentrations (p = 0.046 and p = 0.034), coinciding with reduced aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.016 and p = 0.045), and lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.011 and p = 0.008) activities compared to control. However, CNT₈₀ had higher circulating NEFA and BHBA than CNT₀ (p = 0.003 and p = 0.004) and CNT₄₀ (p = 0.035 and p = 0.019). The blood glucose, albumin, and total bilirubin concentrations were not affected. MY and fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM), MY/DMI, and FPCM/DMI were higher in both CNT₄₀ (p = 0.004, p = 0.003, p = 0.014, p = 0.010) and CNT₈₀ (p = 0.002, p = 0.003, p = 0.008, p = 0.013) cows compared with controls. Feeding CNT₈₀ resulted in higher protein content (p = 0.015) but lower fat percentage in milk (p = 0.004) compared to CNT₀. Milk urea nitrogen and somatic cell counts were significantly lower in both CNT₄₀ (p < 0.001, p = 0.009) and CNT₈₀ (p < 0.001 for both) compared to CNT₀, while milk lactose did not differ between treatments. These findings demonstrate that chestnut tannin extract effectively mitigates EME while enhancing lactation performance in mid-lactation dairy cows.

Keywords: hormonal status; metabolic status; methane mitigation; milk yield; supplements; sustainability.

Figure 1

Scheme of the experimental design. CNT₀—no supplemented cows; CNT₄₀—cows supplemented with 40 g of chestnut tannin extract; CNT₈₀—cows supplemented with 80 g of chestnut tannin extract; AC—acclimation period; SM—sampling and measurement period.