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Title: INTAKE, PERFORMANCE, AND BLOOD PARAMETERS IN YOUNG GOATS OFFERED HIGH FORAGE DIETS OF LESPEDEZA OR ALFALFA HAY

Author
item Turner, Kenneth
item WILDEUS, S - VIRGINIA STATE UNIV
item COLLINS, J - VIRGINIA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2001
Publication Date: 2/1/2002
Citation: TURNER, K.E., WILDEUS, S., COLLINS, J.R. INTAKE, PERFORMANCE, AND BLOOD PARAMETERS IN YOUNG GOATS OFFERED HIGH FORAGE DIETS OF LESPEDEZA OR ALFALFA HAY. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANIMAL SCIENCE SOUTHERN SECTION MEETING. 2002.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: July-born F1 Boer x Spanish, Nubian, and Spanish buck kids (n=18) were used in an experiment evaluating the use of lespedeza hay in goat diets. Bucks were assigned to the experiment at 6 mo of age, and randomly assigned to 6 pens, stratified by breed, representing 3 replicates. The two diets were ad libitum sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.-Cours) G. Don] hay (11.2% CP, 28.5% IVOMD, 39.4% ADF, 60.6% NDF) or alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay (18.7% CP, 52.3% IVOMD, 46.1% ADF, 59.9% NDF); a corn/cottonseed supplement (15.5% CP, 73.3% IVOMD, 15.5% ADF, 25.3% NDF) offered at .5% of BW; and free choice trace-mineral mix. Alfalfa and lespedeza hay contained .24 and 23.1 mg condensed tannin/mg protein, respectively. During the 100- d feeding trial, BW and hay intake was measured and pre-prandial plasma was harvested for blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glucose and creatinine analyses. Growth and blood data were analyzed using time, breed, diet, and rep as main effects, and intake with a repeated measures analysis using diet and time. Bucks fed alfalfa had a higher ADG (103 vs. 56 g/d; P < .01) and final BW (31.3 vs. 26.6 kg; P < .05) than those offered lespedeza. Intake was higher (P < .001) for lespedeza (40.1 g/kg BW) than for alfalfa (36.4 g/kg BW) diets, and increased with time on trial for lespedeza, but not alfalfa (diet x time interaction: P < .05). Bucks offered the alfalfa diet had higher (P < .001) concentrations (mg/dl) of BUN (21.1 vs 10.7) and glucose (67.7 vs 59.5) and lower (P < .001) creatinine (.52 vs .61 mg/dl) compared to kids offered the lespedeza diet. The higher condensed tannin content of lespedeza hay did not reduce palatability in goats, as consumption exceeded that of alfalfa hay; however, weight gained was lower as a result of the lower CP and IVOMD.