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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #102348
Title: FORAGE VOLATILES AS CUES FOR RUMINANTS

Author
item Mayland, Henry
item FLATH, R - USDA-ARS (RETIRED)
item Roitman, James
item Fisher, Dwight
item Burns, Joseph

Submitted to: Proceedings of Emerging Techniques for Studying the Nutrition of Grazing ...
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Are preference and dry matter intake by ruminants dependent upon volatile compounds coming from the forage? If animals respond to such cues then it would be helpful to identify the effective chemical compounds from the many present in most plants. Plant breeders could select plants based on altered concentrations of such compounds, and animal nutritionists might add them directly to rations to affect dry matter intake.

Technical Abstract: Forage volatiles may provide cues that affect animal food choices. Collecting and identifying these compounds is challenging. The authors briefly describe the methodology and report several volatile compounds that relate to animal preference.