Tannin content of grazing plants of southern Spanish arid lands

Studies of tannin concentrations in forage plant species in and south-easte rn Spain were conducted to assess the relationship between tannins and use of plants by domestic livestock. Tannin concentrations were measured in the most important forage plants (28 shrub species and 12 herbaceous species) in each of the four seasons of the year. Twenty-five percent of the shrubs were rich in tannins. The shrubs, Helianthemum almeriensis and Dorycnium pe ntapyllum, had the highest concentrations of tannins (4.5 % and 4.0 % in dr y matter, respectively). With the exception of Sedum sediforme, herbaceous species had no tannins. (C) 2001 Academic Press.