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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #223493
Title: Effects of one-seed juniper on intake, rumen fermentation, and plasma amino acids in sheep and goats fed supplemental protein

Author
item UTSUMI, S.A. - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item CIBILS, A.F. - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item Estell, Richard - Rick
item SOTO-NAVARRO, S. - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item HALLFORD, D.M. - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/4/2008
Publication Date: 7/7/2008
Citation: Utsumi, S., Cibils, A., Estell, R.E., Soto-Navarro, S., Hallford, D. 2008. Effects of one-seed juniper on intake, rumen fermentation, and plasma amino acids in sheep and goats fed supplemental protein [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science 86 (E-suppl. 2):223.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We tested the effect of feeding one-seed juniper on total intake, VFA profile, and plasma amino acids (AA) of 12 does and 12 ewes fed sudangrass and a basal diet with no protein supplement (Control; 5% CP) or rumen degradable (SBM; RDP 15% CP) or undegradable (FM; RUP 15% CP) protein supplement. After 15 d of adaptation to sudangrass and basal diets (period 1), animals received one-seed juniper leaves in addition to sudangrass and basal diets during a second 15-d period. Each food was fed separately during 3-h periods at 10% of previous day intake. Blood and ruminal fluid samples were collected on the last 2 d of each period to determine plasma AA, VFA (µM), and rumen pH. Analyses followed a split-plot design with periods with or without juniper as a sub-plot factor. Juniper intake did not vary between species (P = 0.54) or supplement treatments (P = 0.93; 4.7 g/kg0.75). Total intake (TI), basal diet intake (BDI), and sudangrass intake (SGI) were unaffected by supplements, were higher for sheep than goats (P < 0.01), and decreased with juniper feeding in period 2 (P < 0.01). Total intake, BDI, and SGI for periods 1 and 2 were 54.9 vs. 47.6, 36.7 vs. 31.5, and 18.2 vs. 11.5 g/kg0.75, respectively. Total VFA, acetate (Ac), and propionate (Pr) increased with juniper in period 2 (P < 0.01; period 1 vs. 2, VFA: 63.9 vs. 79.4; Ac: 47.5 vs. 60.5; Pr: 9.3 vs. 11.7). Rumen pH averaged 6.4 and did not differ between supplements, species, or periods. Total AA and some individual AA differed between supplements (RUP = RDP > Control), species (goats > sheep), and decreased with juniper feeding in period 2 (P < 0.05). Juniper intake in period 2 was associated with decreased plasma ALA, GLY, THR, SER, ASP, MET, GLU, PHE, CYST, TYR, and TRP. These data suggest one-seed juniper in sheep and goat diets depresses intake, but may increase VFA and requirements for certain amino acids.