The effect of varying levels of purified condensed tannins on performance, blood profile, meat quality and methane emission in male Bapedi sheep fed grass hay and pellet-based diet

This study determined the effect of purified condensed tannin inclusion levels in a diet on production, haematological indices, blood biochemical components, meat quality and methane emission by yearling indigenous male Bapedi sheep on a grass hay and sheep pellet-based diet in a 28-day trial. The diets contained similar ( P > 0.05) nutrients but with different ( P 0.05) diet intake, digestibility and live weight gain of male Bapedi sheep. Supplementing diets with purified condensed tannins did not affect ( P > 0.05) blood components of male Bapedi sheep. Inclusion of condensed tannins in the diets did not affect ( P > 0.05) Bapedi sheep meat pH and sensory attributes. However, supplementing diets with purified condensed tannins decreased ( P