The blood metabolic profile was examined in 2-3 year old non-lactating and non-pregnant Mamber goats consuming
Quercus calliprinos (oak), Pistacia lentiscus (pistacia) and Cerafonia siliqua (carob) leaves to determine whether intake of
tannin-rich fodder induces subclinical systemic toxicity. Total phenolic and condensed tannin content ranked in the order
pistacia > oak > carob. Goats did not exhibit toxic effects following consumption of IO-23 g kg-’ day-’ of tannin-rich
leaves. Metabolite blood concentrations did not differ from goats fed wheat straw, and were within the normal range. Certain
serum metabolic indices that are known to be sensitive indicators of damage to the liver (gamma glutamyltranspeptidase,
alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol) and kidneys (urea, uric acid, minerals) were within the normal range for goats. Thus, it
appears that goats used in this study were well adapted to the 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- ’ BW day-’ soluble phenolics) without