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Title: Conditioned food aversion to Ipomoea carnea var. fistulosa induced by Baccharis coridifolia in goats

Author
item ADRIEN, MARIA - Universidade Federal De Pelotas
item RIET-CORREA, GABRIELA - Federal University Of Campina Grande
item OLIVEIRA, CARLOS - Federal University Of Campina Grande
item Pfister, James
item Cook, Daniel
item SOUZA, ELDA - Universidade Federal De Pelotas
item RIET-CORREA, FRANKLIN - Federal University Of Campina Grande
item SCHILD, ANA - Universidade Federal De Pelotas

Submitted to: Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/26/2013
Publication Date: 8/1/2013
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5498092
Citation: Adrien, M.L., Riet-Correa, G., Oliveira, C.A., Pfister, J.A., Cook, D., Souza, E.G., Riet-Correa, F., Schild, A.L. 2013. Conditioned food aversion to Ipomoea carnea var. fistulosa induced by Baccharis coridifolia in goats. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira. 33(8):999-1003.

Interpretive Summary: Baccharis coridifolia is a plant that induces strong conditioned food aversion in ruminants. This research aimed to induce a conditioned food aversion to Ipomoea carnea var. fistulosa in goats, using B. coridifolia as an aversive agent, and to compare the aversion induced by this plant with the aversion induced by lithium chloride (LiCl). Goats were averted to Ipomoea in pens and grazing pastures using B. coridifolia. These results suggest that B. coridifolia or an active compound from the plant could be use to induce aversion to toxic plants. Using B. coridifolia would be cheaper and, particularly in flocks with large number of animals, possibly easier than using LiCl, which requires the use of a stomach tube and qualified personnel for its use.

Technical Abstract: Baccharis coridifolia is a plant that induces strong conditioned food aversion in ruminants. This research aimed to induce a conditioned food aversion to Ipomoea carnea var. fistulosa in goats, using B. coridifolia as an aversive agent, and to compare the aversion induced by this plant with the aversion induced by lithium chloride (LiCl). Thirteen goats were allotted into two groups: Group 1 with six goats was averted with 175mg/kg of body weight of LiCl and Group 2 with seven goats was averted with 0,25g/kg of bw of dried B. coridifolia. All goats were averted on day 1 after the ingestion of I. carnea. The aversion procedure with LiCl or B. coridifolia in goats from Groups 1 and 2, respectively, was repeated in those goats that again consumed the plant during tests on days 2, 3, and 7. The goats of both groups were challenged in pens on 23 and 38 days after the last day of aversion and challenged in the pasture on days 11, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27 and 29 after the last day of aversion. After this period goats were challenged every 15 days on pasture until the 330th day after the last day of aversion (7th day). At the end of the experiment, on day 330, most of the goats averted with B. coridifolia remained averted. These results suggest that B. coridifolia or an active compound from the plant could be use to induce aversion to toxic plants. Using B. coridifolia would be cheaper and, particularly in flocks with large number of animals, possibly easier than using LiCl, which requires the use of oral gavage and qualified personnel for its implementation.