Abstract
Two protein tanning methods were evaluated to contribute to the withdrawal of formaldehyde as a tanning agent of meals for feeding ruminants. The experimental materials were two fractions of rapeseed and sunflower meals collected at the positive electrode of an electrostatic separator, presenting high contents in proteins and phenolic compounds. The objective was to make phenolics and proteins interact without addition of exogenous tannins. Treatment CH incubated a meal fraction:water mixture (1:2, w:w) for 48 h at 50 degrees C. Treatment FR incubated a meal fraction:water mixture (1:10, w:w) at pH 9.0 for 48 h at 4 degrees C. Microbial proteolysis on meal fractions were quantified during 24 h rumen batch fermentations with cellulose and starch as nitrogen-free energy sources. The net production of ammonia tended to be reduced by treatment FR mostly on rapeseed, corresponding to an 8% saving of rapeseed meal proteins degradable in the rumen. When untreated, the sunflower fraction decreased methane production by 50%, while treatments restored the fermentation pattern. Cold alkaline treatment could be considered to protect meal proteins from degradation by rumen micro-organisms.