Microencapsulated Escape Lysine with Tannin as an Adjuvant in Sheep Diets

The use of escape protein, which is absorbed in the small intestine, can improve the production of ruminant animals because it meets their protein requirements better. This study hypothesized that wax lipid matrices are effective encapsulants for escape lysine in ruminants and tested tannin extract as an adjuvant. Forty intact male Santa Ines × Dorper sheep (~4 months old, BW 23 ± 1.2 kg) were allocated, in a randomized block design, to four treatments: control group (no lysine addition), supplementation with free lysine, escape lysine, and escape lysine + tannin extract. The ether extract intake was higher in the sheep fed escape lysine + tannin compared to the control and free lysine group. The sheep fed escape lysine presented higher DM and aNDF eating efficiency (p ≤ 0.05) compared to the free lysine and control groups. Escape lysine with and without tannin presented greater TDN compared to free lysine and control. The NFCs were lower in the free lysine diet, and the crude protein digestibility was higher in the sheep fed lysine + tannin and the control group compared to the escape and free lysine groups. The lysine treatments did not affect (p > 0.05) the performance, ingestive behavior, and blood parameters. The rectal temperature was higher in the sheep fed lysine escape compared to those fed free lysine. The sheep fed escape lysine + tannin exhibited reduced (p ≤ 0.05) large particles and improved peNDF 12 h after feeding. The escape lysine diet, regardless of the addition of tannin, improved the total digestible nutrients and eating efficiency, without affecting the performance, feed conversion, and blood variables of the sheep.