Comparison of rumen fluid from South African game species and from sheep to digest tanniniferous browse
The hypothesis that South African game animals that use browse containing condensed tannins (CT) could have rumen microbial populations better able to ferment tanniniferous forages was explored. Rumen fluid (RF) from a range of browsing ruminants was used to ferment tanniniferous forages in vitro and the results were compared with the values obtained with rumen fluid from sheep. Leaves of the shrub legumes Leucaena leucocephala, L. pallida, L. trichandra, Calliandra calothyrsus, Gliricidia sepium, and Acacia boliviana were used as substrates.