Effect of tannin supplementation on nitrogen digestibility and retention in growing pigs.

Two levels (0,25% and 0,5%) of water solible chestnut tannin were added to the diet of growing pigs in a 40 days feedingt trial, from the average body weight of 76 Kg up about 110 Kg. As Expected, a significant depression of the apparent digestibility of both dietary dry matter and nitrogen was recorded with level 0,5%, but the deecrease of retained nitrogen was not statistically significant, due to the higher dietary nitrogen. It is concluded that the present preliminary study showed that a concentration of 250g tannin per 100Kg mixed feed does not appreciably influence the animals' performance. The aspect of a possibiloe benificial effect on the gut microflora deserves further studies