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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #285924
Title: Effect of supplementing activated charcoal on the intake of honey mesquite leaves by lambs

Author
item MAYAGOITIA-GONZALEZ, PIEDAD - New Mexico State University
item BAILEY, DEREK - New Mexico State University
item Estell, Richard - Rick

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/22/2012
Publication Date: 8/17/2012
Citation: Mayagoitia-Gonzalez, P.E., Bailey, D., Estell, R.E. 2012. Effect of supplementing activated charcoal on the intake of honey mesquite leaves by lambs. American Society of Animal Science Proceedings. 63:7-9.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A study was conducted to determine if intake of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) leaves by sheep could be increased by supplementing four levels of activated charcoal supplemental (0.0, 0.33, 0.67 and 1.00 g/kg of BW). Twenty wether lambs (36.6 ± 0.6 kg) were randomly assigned to the 4 treatment levels. Lambs were fed 2.0% of body weight of low-quality Sudan-grass hay (Sorghum bicolor) and 80 g/d of molasses for 7 days, and then for following 16 days lambs were fed 1.9% of body weight of low-quality Sudan-grass hay and 80 g /day of molasses mixed with the assigned level of activated charcoal. After the 7-d acclimation period, lambs were also given ad libitum access to honey mesquite leaves that had been thawed before feeding. Repeated measures analyses were used to determine if level of activated charcoal fed to lambs affected daily intake of mesquite leaves. No differences (P = 0.52) in the intake of mesquite leaves were detected. Mean intake of mesquite leaves was 20.7 ± 3.7, 23.8 ± 3.8, 20.2 ± 3.7, and 27.3 ± 3.7 g/day for the 0.0, 0.33, 0.67 and 1.0 levels, respectively. Consumption of mesquite leaves varied greatly among lambs, ranging from 1.24 to 6.25% of the diet. Differences in hay intake (P = 0.23) and lamb weight gain (P = 0.58) were not detected among supplemental charcoal treatments. Future studies examining the consumption of honey mesquite leaves by sheep should consider the potential variability in intake among individual animals.