Reduction of proteolysis of high protein silage from Moringa and Indigofera leaves by addition of tannin extract

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of the addition of tannin extract to Moringa and Indigofera leaf silages on their chemical composition, silage quality characteristics, and rumen fermentation parameters and digestibility. Moringa and Indigofera leaves were cut (3 cm length) and added with either 0, 2, or 4% chestnut tannin in three replicates. The leaves were then inserted into lab-scale silos (1 L capacity) and kept for 30 days. Silage samples were subjected to silage quality determination, chemical composition analysis, and rumen fermentation and digestibility evaluation using a gas production technique. Data obtained were subjected to the analysis of variance with a factorial statistical model in which the first factor was different silage species and the second factor was tannin addition levels. Tannin addition at 4% dry matter (DM) increased neutral detergent insoluble crude protein (NDICP) and acid detergent insoluble CP (ADICP) of Indigofera silage. A similar response was observed in Moringa silage, but it required less tannin, i.e., 2% DM to increase its NDICP and ADICP. Moringa silage had lower pH than that of Indigofera silage (p