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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #177949
Title: EFFECTS OF EUGENOL, TERPIN-4-OL, ALPHA-TERPINEOL, AND METHYL EUGENOL ON CONSUMPTION OF ALFALFA PELLETS BY SHEEP

Author
item Estell, Richard - Rick
item Frederickson, Eddie
item Anderson, Dean
item REMMENGA, MARTA - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/24/2005
Publication Date: 7/24/2005
Citation: Estell, R., Fredrickson, E., Anderson, D. Remmenga, M. 2005. Effects of eugenol, terpin-4-ol, alpha-terpineol, and methyl eugenol on consumption of alfalfa pellets by sheep [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 83(Suppl. 1.):274.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Secondary compounds present in shrubs on rangelands in the western United States are often aversive to livestock. However, effects of many of these compounds on intake have not been individually tested. Four experiments were conducted to examine effects of individual terpenes on alfalfa pellet intake by lambs. Forty-five lambs (nine lambs/treatment) were individually fed alfalfa pellets sprayed with either eugenol, terpin-4-ol, alpha-terpineol, or methyl eugenol at one of five concentrations in an ethanol carrier. Treatments (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 10X) were multiples of the concentration (X) of a specific terpene on the leaf surface of Flourensia cernua. Terpenes were applied to alfalfa pellets (0.64 kg.lamb{-1}.d{-1}, DM basis), and consumption was measured during a 20-min interval for 5 d. Lambs were adapted to handling and individual pen feeding for 10 d and were maintained and fed alfalfa pellets in one group (except during 20-min tests) at a mean total daily intake of 3.9% of BW (DM basis). A day effect (P < 0.0001) was detected for intake in all four experiments, but no day x treatment interactions were observed (P > 0.05). The day effect was generally due to lower intake of alfalfa pellets on day one, except for the methyl eugenol experiment in which lambs consumed more pellets on day one. No treatment effects were observed (P > 0.05) for any of the four chemicals tested; thus, none of these chemicals were strongly related to intake of alfalfa pellets by lambs under the conditions of this study.