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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #100643
Title: EFFECTS OF TERPENES ON INTAKE OF ALFALFA PELLETS BY SHEEP

Author
item Estell, Richard - Rick
item FREDRICKSON, ED - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item Anderson, Dean
item Havstad, Kris
item REMMENGA, M - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: ESTELL, R.E., FREDRICKSON, E.L., ANDERSON, D.M., HAVSTAD, K.M., REMMENGA, M.D. EFFECTS OF TERPENES ON INTAKE OF ALFALFA PELLETS BY SHEEP. 91ST NATIONAL MEETING, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANIMAL SCIENCE. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE. 1999. V. 77 (SUPPL. 1). ABSTRACT P. 207.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Five experiments were conducted to examine influences of terpenes on intake of alfalfa pellets by sheep. Five mono- and sesquiterpenes that were related to tarbush (Flourensia cernua) consumption by livestock in previous studies using multivariate analysis were examined individually. Average concentrations of selected compounds (C) were 5, 25, 50, 100, and 10 micro g/g of tarbush DM for para-cymene, alpha-humulene, 1,8-cineole, 3-carene, and sabinene, respectively. During each experiment, 45 individually penned lambs received one of five treatments (multiples of C: 0X, .5X, 1X, 2X, or 10X) for five consecutive days. Treatments were applied to alfalfa pellets (.64 kg, DM basis) and intake was monitored during a 20 min interval each morning. Lambs were adapted to handling and individual pen feeding for 10 d before experiments began and were maintained and fed alfalfa pellets (4.7% of BW, DM basis) as one group except during 20 min tests. No linear or quadratic responses of intake to treatment level were detected (P > .05 for any of the five compounds. These five terpenes had little influence on consumption of alfalfa pellets, suggesting these compounds are not responsible for differential herbivory of individual tarbush plants by livestock.