GOATS FED TANNIN-CONTAINING LEAVES DO NOT EXHIBIT TOXIC SYNDROMES

The blood metabolic profile was examined in 2-3 year old non-lactating and non-pregnant Mamber goats consuming Quercus calliprinos (oak), Pi stacia lentiscus (pistacia) and Ceratonia siliqua (carob) leaves to de termine whether intake of tannin-rich fodder induces subclinical syste mic toxicity. Total phenolic and condensed tannin content ranked in th e order pistacia > oak > carob. Goats did not exhibit toxic effects fo llowing consumption of 10-23 g kg(-1) day(-1) of tannin-rich leaves. M etabolite blood concentrations did not differ from goats fed wheat str aw, and were within the normal range. Certain serum metabolic indices that are known to be sensitive indicators of damage to the liver (gamm a glutamyltranspeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol) and kidne ys (urea, uric acid, minerals) were within the normal range for goats. Thus, it appears that goats used in this study were well adapted to t he nutritional environment and may consume large amounts of tannins (1 .1-2.7 g per kg BW per day condensed tannins and 0.4-0.9 g kg(-1) BW d ay(-1) soluble phenolics) without suffering any ill effects.