Supplements Containing Escape Protein Improve Redberry Juniper Intake by Goats

Abstract

Redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii Sudw.) is a common invasive plant species in west-central Texas. Goats will consume redberry juniper, but intake is limited by monoterpenoids found in the plant. Previous research has shown that goats will increase juniper intake through 1) conditioning and 2) protein supplementation. This study compared intake of juniper when goats received different protein supplements either with or without protein sources that are high in amino acids that escape digestion in the rumen. Recently weaned Boer-cross goats (n 5 47) were randomly placed into five treatments. Treatments 1, 2, 3, and 4 received a protein supplement and juniper for 1 h daily for 14 d, along with a basal diet of alfalfa pellets (2% body weight). Treatment 5 received only a basal diet of alfalfa pellets and juniper. All supplements were formulated to be isonitrogenous (37% crude protein [CP]). Treatment 1 contained cottonseed meal (high CP escape value), treatment 2 contained cottonseed meal and distiller's dried grain (higher CP escape value), treatment 3 contained soybean meal (low CP escape value), and treatment 4 contained soybean meal and distiller's dried grain (moderate CP escape value). Refusals of juniper, supplements, and alfalfa were weighed daily to determine intake. Supplementation with 1) cottonseed meal, 2) soybean meal, or 3) soybean meal and distillers dried grain did not influence (P. 0.05) juniper intake. Conversely, goats supplemented with cottonseed meal and distiller's dried grain ate more (P , 0.05) juniper than goats receiving only alfalfa, possibly because of increased escape of glucogenic amino acids. We contend that supplementation with feeds high in protein escape values should increase juniper intake on rangelands. Resumen Juniperus pinchotii Sudw. es una especie vegetal invasora común en centro-oeste de Texas. Las cabras consumen J. pinchotii, pero su ingesta está limitada por mono-terpenoides encontrados en esta planta. Investigaciones previas han demostrado que las cabras aumentan el consumo de J. pinchotii a través de 1) condicionamiento y 2) suplementación proteica. En este ensayo se comparó la ingesta de J. pinchotii de cabras que recibieron distintos suplementos proteicos con o sin fuentes de proteína con alto contenido de aminoácidos que escapan la digestión en el rumen. Cabras cruza Boer recientemente destetadas (n 5 47) fueron asignadas al azar a 5 tratamientos. Los tratamientos 1, 2, 3, y 4 recibieron un suplemento proteico y J. pinchotii durante una hora diaria a lo largo de 14 días, junto con una dieta basal de pellets de alfalfa (2% peso corporal). El tratamiento 5 recibió solamente una dieta basal de pellets de alfalfa y J. pinchotii. Todos los suplementos fueron formulados para ser iso-nitrogenados (37% PB). El Tratamiento 1 incluyó expeller de algodón (alto nivel de proteína pasante); el Tratamiento 2 incluyó expeller de algodón y granos de destilería de maíz desecados (contenido superior de proteína pasante); el Tratamiento 3 incluyó expeller de soja (bajo nivel de prot...

Using Experience and Supplementation to Increase Juniper Consumption by Three Different Breeds of Sheep

“…Protein supplementation did not improve juniper consumption by lambs in the second trial. It is unclear why protein supplementation apparently increased intake of juniper by goats as reported by George et al (2010) but did not increase juniper by lambs in the current study.…”

“…Future research should determine if sheep will continue to consume juniper when released into the pasture after weaning. In addition, recent research with goats has suggested that supplements formulated with protein sources that partially escape digestion in the rumen might further improve juniper consumption (George et al 2010). Protein supplementation did not improve juniper consumption by lambs in the second trial.…”

Goat Defoliation and Debarking on Eastern Redcedar with Rumen Undegradable Protein Supplement

“…To increase redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii) intake, protein supplementation is often suggested (Illius and Jessop 1995; Pritz et al 1997; Estell et al 2018). However, the literature is inconsistent on whether rumen degradable protein (RDP) or rumen undegradable protein (RUP) is more important for goats consuming one-seed (Juniperus monosperma) and redberry juniper (Campbell et al 2007; Utsumi et al 2009; George et al 2010; Miller and Scott 2021). While RDP would be available to rumen microbes, RUP that bypasses the rumen may increase amino acids available to the hindgut and liver for PSM detoxification (Foley et al 1995; George et al 2010).…”

“…However, the literature is inconsistent on whether rumen degradable protein (RDP) or rumen undegradable protein (RUP) is more important for goats consuming one-seed (Juniperus monosperma) and redberry juniper (Campbell et al 2007; Utsumi et al 2009; George et al 2010; Miller and Scott 2021). While RDP would be available to rumen microbes, RUP that bypasses the rumen may increase amino acids available to the hindgut and liver for PSM detoxification (Foley et al 1995; George et al 2010). Dried distiller's grain (DDG) is a common high RUP protein source in the midwestern United States (National Research Council 2007).…”

Juniper Consumption Does Not Adversely Affect Meat Quality in Boer-Cross Goats

“…It appears that most of the toxins in juniper are partially oxidized in the liver and conjugated with gluconurides in the liver and excreted (Foley et al 1995;Dunson et al 2007;George et al 2010). However, redberry juniper contains 16 identified monterpenoids, and ashe juniper contains 17 identified monoterpenoids (Owens et al 1998;Dietz et al 2010).…”