CASHEW (Anacardium occidentale L.) PSEUDOFRUIT TANNINS EFFECT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF RATS

Abstract

A trial was carried out at Departamento de Zootecnia da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais to study cashew meal and the influence of tannins of this fruit on rats. A total of 40 rats were randomized in 10 metallic cages in an experimental design with 5 treatments and 2 repetitions. The diets used were: 1 - Basic diet with 65% of corn and 32.9% of soybean meal (0% of tannins); 2 - As 1, but corn was replaced by 25% of cashew meal (0.325% of tannins); 3 - Half of the corn was replaced by cashew meal (0.650% of tannins); 4 - As 1, but corn was replaced by 75% of cashew meal (0.975% of tannins); 5 - Corn was replaced by 100% of cashew meal (1.300% of tannins). A decrease in the gain of weight of rats was observed as the level of cashew meal (and tannins) increased (P < 0.05) . The same was observed to feed/gain and feed consume, but not statistically significant (P > 0.05). However it was highly significant at level of 17% to gain of weight and feed consume. Mortality (75 and 100%) was not well explained at the levels of 0.975 and 1.300% of tannins with regard to others researches.