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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #209093
Title: One seed juniper intake by sheep and goats supplemented with degradable or by-pass protein

Author
item UTSUMI, SANTIAGO - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item CIBILS, ANDRES - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item Estell, Richard - Rick
item SOTO-NAVARRO, SERGIO - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2007
Publication Date: 2/9/2007
Citation: Utsumi, S., Cibils, A., Estell, R.E., Soto-Navarro, S. 2007. One seed juniper intake by sheep and goats supplemented with degradable or by-pass protein [abstract]. Society for Range Management, 60th Annual Meeting and Trade Show, February 9-16, 2007, Reno/Sparks, Nevada. Paper No. 448. 2007 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Successful prescribed grazing of one seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma Englem. Sarg.) with sheep and goats may depend on identifying times of the year when juniper terpenoid levels are less likely to deter herbivory and could be contingent on the use of protein supplements to help animals detoxify terpenes and boost intake. We conducted pen trials with sheep and goats to determine if individual juniper intake varied seasonally (summer, fall, winter, or spring) or was affected by the amount and kind of crude protein (CP) in the diet. Twelve Ramboullet ewes and 12 Spanish-boer goats were offered a basal diet of sudangrass or bermudagrass hay with either no protein added (Control diet: 5% CP), or with soybean meal (degradable CP: DCP) or fishmeal (by-pass CP:BPCP) to achieve two treatment diets with 12.5% CP each. Diets were offered at 1.6% of body weight (BW) to each animal for 10 days of adaptation and 10 days of data collection in each season. Juniper trials were a 30 min feeding bout on juniper branches (175g) attached to wooden stands (0.8 m height). Juniper intake per unit of BW (J1) varied amoung herbivore species. J1 varied among diets (P=0.02) was highest for animals receiving the DCP and BPCP supplements and lowest for control animals. J1 also varied among seasons, intermediate in spring and summer, and lowest during the fall. Sheep and, especially, goats could be used in prescribed grazing programs to suppress juniper re-invasion. Great suppression could be expected from goats browsing during winter, provided that protein levels are sufficient to allow animals to detoxify terpenoids.