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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Dubois, Idaho » Range Sheep Production Efficiency Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #310939
Title: Plasma amino acids of wether lambs supplemented with novel feed products to reduce locoweed toxicity

Author
item ALLATAIFEH, F - New Mexico State University
item Taylor, Joshua - Bret
item CHEN, L - New Mexico State University
item SAWALHAH, M - New Mexico State University
item LOEST, C - New Mexico State University

Submitted to: Western Section of Animal Science Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/21/2014
Publication Date: 7/1/2014
Citation: Allataifeh, F.A., Taylor, J.B., Chen, L., Sawalhah, M.N., Loest, C.A. 2014. Plasma amino acids of wether lambs supplemented with novel feed products to reduce locoweed toxicity. Western Section of Animal Science Proceedings. 65:218-222.

Interpretive Summary: Novel treatments are needed that counter or minimize the toxic effects of locoweed in grazing livestock. For example, a bacterial strain (YLZZ-1) isolated from the soil surrounding Oxytropis kansuensis was found to degrade swainsonine in culture. Furthermore, a novel feed supplement containing a combination of bacterial cell walls, yeast, and enzymes decreased subclinical symptoms of locoweed toxicity in sheep. We hypothesized that consumption of locoweed will alter amino acid metabolism in lambs and such alterations can be countered by feeding proprietary products, which contained bacterial cell walls, yeast, and enzyme. Our data indicated that addition of such products to the diets of lambs consuming locoweed did not counter the negative effects of locoweed on lamb health and amino acid metabolism.

Technical Abstract: Locoweed is a toxic legume that impairs performance and may cause death in grazing livestock. Novel feed and supplement products are needed that counter or minimize the toxic effects of locoweed. The objective was to evaluate the effects of 3 proprietary feed product formulations on plasma amino acid concentrations of wether lambs consuming locoweed. Forty wether lambs (39 +/- 0.4 kg body weight) were housed individually and fed 620 g/day of alfalfa hay and 100 g/day of corn-based feed twice daily in equal portions for 20 days. Lambs were equally divided into 4 blocks, and were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments within each block (randomized complete block design). Treatments were: no locoweed or feed products (CON); 20 g/day of locoweed (LOCO); 20 g/day of locoweed and 50 g/day of feed product 1 (AK1); 20 g/day of locoweed and 50 g/day of feed product 2 (AK2); 20 g/day of locoweed and 50 g/day of feed product 3 (AK3). Locoweed and feed products replaced alfalfa hay in the basal diet. Plasma from jugular venous blood was collected on days 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 20 of treatment. Treatment × day interactions (P < 0.05) were detected for plasma Gly and Thr, but not for other amino acids (P > 0.05). Plasma, Leu, Met, Val, Ala, Asn, and Pro were greater (P < 0.05), while the concentration of Glu was lower (P < 0.05) in lambs fed treatment diets containing locoweed compared to the CON. The increase in plasma amino acids in lambs fed locoweed suggests that amino acid uptake was impaired and(or) tissue protein degradation was increased. Plasma concentrations of His, Ile, Lys, Phe, Trp, Asp, Gln, Ser, and Tyr were not different (P > 0.07) between lambs fed treatment diets containing locoweed and CON. Lambs supplemented with AK1, AK2, or AK3 had plasma amino acid concentrations that were similar (P > 0.05) to lambs fed locoweed only. We conclude that locoweed consumption alters plasma amino acids in lambs and that addition of novel formulations did not counter the effects of locoweed on plasma amino acids.