Effects of four mono- and sesquiterpenes on the consumption of alfalfa pellets by sheep

Effects of individual terpenes on alfalfa pellet intake by lambs were examined in four experiments. Forty-five lambs (nine lambs/treatment) were individually fed alfalfa pellets sprayed with either camphene, myrcene, caryophyllene oxide, or beta-pinene at one of five concentrations (one terpene per experiment). Treatments (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 10x) were multiples of the concentration (x) of a specific terpene in tarbush. Terpenes were applied to alfalfa pellets (0.64 kg x lamb(-1) x d(-1), DM basis), and consumption was measured during a 20-min interval for 5 d. Lambs were maintained and fed alfalfa pellets in one group (except during 20-min tests) at a mean total daily intake of 4.7% of BW (DM basis). Camphene and caryophyllene oxide tended to decrease intake (linear contrasts were P = .0651 and P = .0504, respectively), whereas myrcene and beta-pinene exerted no effect on the consumption of alfalfa pellets by lambs. Camphene and caryophyllene oxide may be involved in the differential herbivory of individual tarbush plants by livestock.     

Effect of individual terpenes on consumption of alfalfa pellets by sheep

We examined effects of individual terpenes on alfalfa pellet intake of lambs in five experiments. Forty-five lambs (nine lambs/treatment) were individually fed alfalfa pellets sprayed with either p-cymene, alpha-humulene, 1,8-cineole, 3-carene, or sabinene at one of five concentrations (one terpene per experiment). Treatments (0, .5, 1, 2, and 10x) were multiples of the concentration (x) of a specific terpene in tarbush that was related to differential herbivory by livestock in previous studies. Terpenes were applied to alfalfa pellets (.64 kg x lamb(-1) x d(-1), DM basis), and consumption was measured during a 20-min interval for 5 d. Lambs were adapted to handling and 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 4.7% of BW (DM basis). None of the five compounds decreased alfalfa pellet consumption during the 20-min interval. These five mono- and sesquiterpenes do not seem to be responsible for differential herbivory of individual tarbush plants by livestock.     

Effects of conditioning and maximal incremental exercise on oxygen consumption in sheep

To assess the suitability of sheep for exercise studies, the effect of incremental exercise and conditioning on oxygen consumption (VO2) was studied. Six sheep were adapted to a treadmill and subsequently trained 8 weeks. The sheep were then studied, in random order, using 3 incremental exercise protocols (EX-1, EX-2, and EX-3). The protocols were chosen to approximate high (EX-1), moderate (EX-2), and low (EX-3) intensity exercise by varying treadmill speed and incline. The sheep were then conditioned for an additional 12 weeks and retested on the EX-2 protocol. During exercise, VO2, gas exchange ratio (R), and rectal temperatures (Tb) were recorded. All 3 protocols resulted in significant increases in VO2, R, and Tb (P less than 0.05). Maximum VO2 for EX-1, 49.9 +/- 5.0 ml/min/kg of body weight, was significantly greater than maximum VO2 for EX-2 and EX-3, 37.8 +/- 6.5 and 42.3 +/- 6.0 ml/min/kg, respectively (P less than 0.05), whereas maximum R and maximum Tb were similar. After the additional 12-week conditioning, time on the treadmill increased 40% from 9.58 +/- 0.87 to 13.4 +/- 0.44 minutes, and maximum VO2 increased 27% to 48.1 +/- 9.1 ml/min/kg. These data indicated that maximum VO2 varied with intensity of the exercise, 12 weeks of maximal exercise conditioning was sufficient to produce a measurable training effect (ie, increase endurance and maximum oxygen consumption) and sheep are suitable for maximal exercise studies where VO2 measurements are desired.     

Effect of age of exposure on consumption of a shrub by sheep

We investigated the influence of age of exposure to a specific forage on its consumption by young sheep both during and after that exposure. Prior exposure to the shrub Cercocarpus montanus enhanced subsequent consumption (P less than or equal to .05) of that shrub by lambs and yearlings during two experiments in consecutive years. Effects of prior exposure persisted as long as 9 mo without intervening exposure. Age of exposure influenced consumption in lambs both during the period of exposure (P less than or equal to .0001) and during feeding trials following exposure (P less than or equal to .07) in Exp. 1. Lambs exposed at 1 to 5 wk of age, when they are nonruminant and normally are dependent on the dam, browsed less of the time while at the shrub (P less than or equal to .02) and consumed less of the shrub (P less than .02) at a slower rate (P less than or equal to .03) than did lambs exposed at older ages. Lambs exposed at 4 to 8 wk of age, a period corresponding to the transition from nonruminant to ruminant digestion, consumed more shrub following exposure than did lambs exposed at younger or older ages (P less than equal to .05, unprotected least significant differences test). In Exp. 2, which compared naive yearlings with the experienced yearlings exposed as lambs in Exp. 1 the previous year, age of exposure did not influence consumption by yearling sheep following exposure; however, the number of months that had elapsed from the period of exposure varied from 0 to 13 among experimental groups and may have confounded results. Learning of forages appeared poor among nonruminant lambs; data were inconclusive concerning the efficiency of learning of lambs in the transition to ruminant digestion.     

Effects of cis-beta-ocimene, cis-sabinene hydrate, and monoterpene and sesquiterpene mixtures on alfalfa pellet intake by lambs

The transition of grasslands to shrub-dominated scrubland reduces livestock productivity and contributes to impoverished conditions for humans in arid and semiarid regions worldwide. Many shrubs that are increasing in dominance contain secondary compounds that deter browsing by herbivores. Knowledge concerning the effects of specific compounds in herbivore diets is limited but may provide useful insights into desertification. Flourensia cernua is a dominant shrub in the northern Chihuahuan Desert that contains an abundance of terpenes. Four experiments were conducted to determine the effects of terpenes on intake of alfalfa pellets by lambs. Two individual monoterpenes (cis-beta-ocimene and cis-sabinene hydrate) were examined in Exp. 1 and 2, and mixtures of monoterpenes (borneol, camphene, camphor, 1,8-cineole, limonene, myrcene, and alpha-pinene) and sesquiterpenes (beta-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, alpha-copaene, and alpha-humulene) were examined in Exp. 3 and 4, respectively. Forty-five lambs (9 lambs/treatment) were individually fed treated alfalfa pellets for 20 min each morning for 5 d. Five treatments (0x, 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 10x; multiples of the concentrations of the same terpenes in F. cernua) were applied to alfalfa pellets (637 g, DM basis) in an ethanol carrier. The experiments were preceded by a 10-d adaptation period of the lambs to untreated pellets. Except during the 20-min test, the lambs were maintained outdoors and fed untreated alfalfa pellets (total mean intake = 4.7% of BW, DM basis). Day x treatment interactions were detected (P < 0.04) in Exp. 1 and 4 because of a greater intake for 0x than for the other treatments on d 1 (Exp. 1) and a lower intake for the 10x treatment on d 1 and 2 (Exp. 4). A trend for decreased intake (g/kg of BW) as the concentration of the sesquiterpene mixture increased was observed in Exp. 3 (P = 0.093 for the linear contrast). Although there was a tendency for the sesquiterpene mixture to decrease intake, cis-beta-ocimene, cis-sabinene hydrate, and the monoterpene mixture did not appear to affect intake by lambs. Thus, sesquiterpenes may exert antiherbivory properties under certain conditions that may contribute to shrub dominance with extended periods of livestock foraging.     

Comparison of soybean meal/sorghum grain, alfalfa hay and dehydrated alfalfa pellets as supplemental protein sources for beef cattle consuming dormant tallgrass-prairie forage

Three experiments were conducted to compare soybean meal/sorghum grain (SBM/SG), alfalfa hay or dehydrated alfalfa pellets (DEHY) as supplemental protein sources for beef cattle grazing dormant range forage. In Exp. 1 (35-d digestion study), 16 ruminally cannulated steers were stratified by weight (average BW 259 kg) and assigned randomly within stratification to: 1) control, no supplement; 2) SBM/SG (25% CP) fed at .48% BW; 3) alfalfa hay (17% CP) fed at .70% BW; or 4) DEHY (17.4% CP) fed at .67% BW. Steers receiving protein supplements displayed at least a twofold increase in forage intake (P less than .10). In addition, steers supplemented with DEHY consumed approximately 15% more forage (P less than .10) than SBM/SG- or alfalfa hay-supplemented steers. Digestible DM intake (kg/d), however, was similar between alfalfa hay- and DEHY-supplemented steers and 20% greater (P less than .10) than for SBM/SG-supplemented steers. In Exp. 2, 82 mature, nonlactating Hereford x Angus cows (average BW 489 kg) were assigned randomly to SBM/SG, alfalfa hay or DEHY supplement treatments, which were replicated in three pastures. Cows supplemented with DEHY gained more weight (P less than .05) during the first 84 d of supplementation and displayed the least amount of weight loss at calving (d 127; P less than .05) and just prior to breeding (P less than .10). In contrast, calving interval (361 d) and pregnancy rate (94%) were unaffected (P greater than .10) by dam's previous supplemental treatment. In Exp. 3, one block (pasture) of cows from Exp. 2 was selected at random and grazing behavior was monitored during week-long periods in January and February. A treatment X time interaction (P less than .05) occurred for total time spent grazing; treatments did not differ in January, but cows supplemented with alfalfa hay spent less time grazing in the February grazing period. In conclusion, DEHY and alfalfa hay appear to be at least as effective as SBM/SG as a supplemental protein source for pregnant grazing cows when supplements are fed on an equal CP and ME basis.     

Effects of supplementing herbaceous forage legume pellets on growth indices and blood profile of West African dwarf sheep fed Guinea grass

Twenty West African dwarf (WAD) rams with average body weight of 12.43?±?0.5 kg were used for the experiment that lasted 84 days to investigate the effects of supplementing herbaceous forage legume pellets on weight change and blood profile of animals fed Panicum maximum basal diet. Sole Panicum maximum served as the control diet and three other experimental diets were P. maximum supplemented with Lablab purpureus pellets, P. maximum supplemented with Calopogonium mucunoides pellets and P. maximum supplemented with Mucuna pruriens pellets constituted the four treatments which were arranged in a completely randomised design. The rams were divided into four groups of five animals each and were balanced for variation in live weight before they were assigned the experimental diets. Panicum maximum was offered to the animals ad libitum and legume pellets were supplemented. Significant differences (P?< 0.05) were observed in weight gain of the rams. Those fed the control diet had the lowest value of 41.88 g/day while rams supplemented L. purpureus pellets had the highest value (83.66 g/day). Haematological parameters, leucocyte values and serum biochemical indices of WAD rams were significantly (P?< 0.05) different across the dietary treatments at the final stage of the trial. The values for red blood cells, haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin decreased slightly in rams supplemented with M. pruriens pellets. Reduction of serum biochemical parameters was also noticed in rams supplemented with M. pruriens pellets. It can be concluded that L. purpureus pellets ranked the best among the herbaceous legume pellets as supplemental feed for West African dwarf sheep resulting in higher weight gain and better feed conversion efficiency with no deleterious effect on blood profile.

     

Influence of alfalfa maturity on feed intake and site of nutrient digestion in sheep

Four wethers fitted with ruminal, duodenal and ileal cannulas were used to study effects of maturity of alfalfa hay on intake, digestion and rate of passage of nutrients in various sites of the digestive tract. Pre-, early-, and mid-bloom hays were harvested from the same field; full-bloom hay was acquired from elsewhere due to wether conditions. Dry matter intake decreased (P less than .05) as intakes of NDF and ADF increased. This was attributed to decreased digestibility and increased retention time of undigested residues. Digestion of OM in the stomach (% of intake) was 44.2, 47.4, 38.8 and 35.1 for pre-, early-, mid- and full-bloom hay, respectively. Digestion of ADF in the stomach was lower for mid-bloom than for pre-and early-bloom hay (P less than .05). Degradation of alfalfa protein in the rumen was 94, 88, 81 and 78% for pre-, early-, mid- and full-bloom hay, respectively. Concentration of ruminal NH3 N, flow of N at the duodenum, fecal N and urinary N decreased of the hay and to N intake. Digestion of N in the small intestine (g/d) decreased as maturity advanced (P less than .05). Duodenal flow of total amino acids was greater (P less than .05) when animals consumed pre-bloom hay than when they consumed more mature hays. Relative feed value calculated from the detergent fiber analysis correlated with actual value determined biologically (r = +.81). Intake and site of nutrient digestion of alfalfa hay were influenced by the stage of maturity at harvest.     

苜蓿施用磷、钾肥效应的研究

采用过磷酸钙与氯化钾进行2因素4水平随机区组施肥试验,结果表明:过磷酸钙600kg hm2与氯化钾100kg hm2施肥处理,苜蓿鲜草产量最高,较对照增产20 0%,纯收入增988元 hm2。新复极差测验表明:不同水平施用过磷酸钙各次刈割鲜草产量及鲜草总产量间差异均达到显著水平(P<0 05),且随着过磷酸钙用量的增加鲜草产量相应地增加。不同水平施用氯化钾与不施氯化钾鲜草总产量差异均达到极显著水平(P<0 01),但施氯化钾150kg hm2与50kg hm2鲜草总产量差异不显著;随着施用氯化钾水平的提高,各次刈割鲜草产量及鲜草总产量均呈先升高后略有下降的趋势,氯化钾施用量以100kg hm2为宜。氯化钾、过磷酸钙及其互作效应均以第1次刈割显著,第2次刈割施肥效应均有所下降,其中氯化钾及氯化钾与过磷酸钙互作效应下降更为明显。增施氯化钾有利于提高苜蓿粗蛋白含量,但粗蛋白含量不随施用量的增加而增加;施过磷酸钙200kg hm2苜蓿粗蛋白含量最高,施400kg hm2苜蓿粗蛋白含量下降。     

The efficacy of intraruminal pellets composed of elemental selenium and iron in sheep

Abstract

Commercial selenium pellets, manufactured after CSIRO workers drew attention to the significance of grain size on the rate of release of selenium, were tested in 27 sheep grazing a low-selenium New Zealand pasture. The pellets were shown by microscopy to contain mainly 10–20 µm particles of selenium, often agglomerated into larger lumps.

There was a considerable variation in the length of time pellets maintained blood selenium levels above the deficiency level of 250 nmol/? (20 µg/?). Whereas four animals given pellets had blood levels below 250 nmol/? after only 343 days, two animals had levels of 375 and 400 nmol/? after 651 days when the level in control sheep was 125±32 nmol/?. The pellets were recovered from all but one animal and had varying degrees of surface coating which was assumed to be mainly calcium phosphate.

Two pellets recovered from sheep at 386 and 484 days, when blood selenium levels were 175 and 1813 nmol/? respectively, were sectioned and examined by light and electron microscopy. Both pellets still contained unreacted selenium but differed in the degree of surface coating. The pellet recovered at 386 days had a solid and continuous coating whereas the coating on the pellet recovered at 484 days was not continuous and consisted of an open lattice of interlocking needles.

It appears that it is the extent of this coating which limits the effective life of the pellet in sheep.     

Inhibition of proteolysis at harvest using heat in alfalfa silages: effects on silage composition and digestion by sheep

Heat treatment at harvest was used to investigate the effects of proteolysis on silage composition and digestion by sheep. Four alfalfa (Medicago sativa) silages were prepared, two from mid-bloom and two from pre-bloom crops from the same field. Mid-bloom alfalfa was conserved with formic acid as two unwilted silages, either without (unwilted control; UWC) or after heat treatment (unwilted heated; UWH) applied as steam for 1 min. Pre-bloom alfalfa was ensiled either after 24 h wilting (wilted control; WC) or after heating in a crop dehydrator for 2 min (wilted control; WH). Heated treatments were inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum. Eight wethers, cannulated in the rumen and duodenum, were given the silages to determine the effects of heat treatment on digestion. Heat treatment inhibited protease activity and reduced protein catabolism in the silo. In unwilted silages, heat treatment had no effects (P greater than .05) on OM or N digestion, but it reduced (P less than .05) CP degradability in the rumen. In wilted silages, heat treatment reduced (P less than .05) apparent OM digestion in the rumen and increased (P less than .05) the proportion of N intake flowing to the intestines as non-ammonia N (NAN). Efficiency of microbial protein synthesis also was increased (P less than .01). Absorption of N posterior to the duodenum was increased (P less than .05) in WH compared to WC, but there was no effect (P greater than .05) of heat treatment on apparent total tract N digestibility.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

硅对紫花苜蓿脯氨酸含量的影响

为了研究干旱胁迫条件下硅对紫花苜蓿脯氨酸含量的影响,采用不同的大田施硅处理和盆栽施硅处理,测定紫花苜蓿不同部位的脯氨酸含量。结果表明:大田试验中,施硅对分枝期紫花苜蓿地上部分的脯氨酸含量有一定的积累作用,而地下部分的脯氨酸含量有升有降。盆栽试验中,在紫花苜蓿盛花期,硅处理叶片在干旱胁迫时脯氨酸含量显著提高(P<0.05);施硅对紫花苜蓿茎的脯氨酸含量有显著的积累作用,而只有在高硅处理时才会显著提高根的脯氨酸含量(P<0.05)。     

Effects of sheep and cattle alternate grazing on sheep parasitism and production

Production of sheep (nursing ewes) grazing alternately with cattle (growing weaned heifers) was compared to the production of sheep or cattle grazing alone (controls). Pasture production and sheep parasitism were also monitored. The herbage allowance was higher for the control heifers than for the alternate heifers, but the leaf to green material ratio (LGMR) was lower, and no difference on heifer growth was revealed (443 vs. 431g.d^-1, P = 0.54). The LGMR was higher for the alternate sheep (+3 points) than for the control sheep, except during the dry season, when the herbage density was lower. The effects of parasitism on the packed cell volume of alternate ewes and lambs were lower than those of control ewes and lambs. However, the infection of sheep by Cooperia sp. (better adapted to cattle) was significantly higher for the alternate sheep than for the controls, and some indication of cattle infection by Haemonchus contortus was suggested. The 70-day lamb weight was higher in the alternate grazing system than in the control (+0.76,+1.11 and+0.61kg for the dry, intermediate and rainy seasons, respectively), and the average 70-day lamb production per ewe exposed was 21.42kg in the alternate grazing system vs. 18.59kg in the control (P = 0.003).     

腐殖酸钠对紫花苜蓿生长及生物量的影响

采用盆栽试验,研究腐殖酸钠肥(NaHA)单施及其与磷肥(P)配施对紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)生长特性及生物量的影响。结果表明,Na HA单施及其与P配施对紫花苜蓿生产指标均有一定的促进作用,且NaHA与P配施的促进作用更明显。NaHA与P配施条件下,当P水平一定时,紫花苜蓿生长速度、株高、节间数、节间距及生物量随NaHA施用量的增加呈现先增后减的趋势;当P从P_1(642 kg·hm~(-2))水平增至P_2(1 286 kg·hm~(-2))水平时,NaHA-P_2施肥组合对紫花苜蓿各生产指标的促进作用不及NaHA-P1组合显著。通过灰色关联度分析对供试处理各性状指标进行综合评价,得出Na HA5-P_1处理的综合表现最好,而且其获得的总生物量也最高。因此,Na HA5-P_1是该试验最佳的施肥组合,即Na HA为2 118 kg·hm~(-2),P为642 kg·hm~(-2)。     

Effects of environmental temperature and ammoniation on utilization of straw by sheep

Eighteen sheep were used to compare diets based on ammoniated wheat straw (AWS) or untreated wheat straw (WS) at three thermal environments: hot (HE, 36 degrees C, 70% relative humidity (RH], thermoneutral (TNE, 24 degrees C, 70% RH) and cold (CE, 4 degrees C, 70% RH). Six sheep were housed in each environment for at least 21 d prior to the trial. Two periods of 28 d were used in a crossover design. Within each period, digestibility was measured both under ad libitum intake (collections on d 16 to 20) and at restricted intake (collections on d 24 to 28). Diets consisted of 59% straw, 20% alfalfa hay and 21% concentrate. Urea was added to the untreated straw diet (.75%) to compensate partially for the N present in the AWS. Rectal temperature and respiration rates indicated that sheep in the HE were heat-stressed. Sheep housed in the CE had lower rectal temperatures and respiration rates than sheep in the TNE, but they did not shiver or show other visible signs of cold stress. Voluntary DM intake increased from 604 to 806 g/d, and ad libitum DM digestibility increased from 55.5 to 58.2% when AWS was fed. At restricted intake, ammoniation increased diet digestibility from 58.8 to 61.4%. Voluntary intake was lower in the HE (588 g/d) compared to 763 g/d in the TNE and 764 g/d in the CE. Digestibility of DM at ad libitum intake was lower in the HE (54.6%) than in the TNE (57.5%) or CE (58.6%); respective results at restricted intake were 58.5, 61.0 and 60.7%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

氮素形态对紫花苜蓿盛花期生长及结瘤固氮的影响

在完全营养液条件下,采用砂培法,研究了3种氮素形态配比NO3--N,NH4+-N和NO3--N∶NH4+-N为1∶1和0、105、210mg/L 3个氮素水平对紫花苜蓿盛花期生长及结瘤固氮的影响。结果表明:不同形态氮素处理下紫花苜蓿的株高、生物量、根瘤数、根瘤重、固氮酶活性和全氮含量均显著高于CK。同一氮素水平下,株高表现为NO3--N和NH4+-N混合培养下效果最好,NO3--N培养下次之,NH4+-N培养下最低;生物量、根瘤数、根瘤重、固氮酶活性和全氮含量NO3--N和NH4+-N混合培养下效果最好,NH4+-N培养下次之,NO3--N培养下最低;茎叶比则是NO3--N培养下最大,NH4+-N培养下次之,NO3--N和NH4+-N混合培养下的最低,各氮素形态处理间差异显著(P0.05)。随着氮素水平的增加,各形态配比下紫花苜蓿的株高、生物量、根瘤数、根瘤重、固氮酶活性和全氮含量呈现增加的变化趋势,茎叶比呈现减小的变化趋势。NO3--N+NH4+-N的浓度为210mg/L时,紫花苜蓿的株高、生物量、根瘤数、固氮酶活性和全氮含量取得最大值,茎叶比取得最小值,根瘤重则在NO3--N+NH4+-N的浓度为105mg/L时取得最大值,紫花苜蓿在混合态氮培养下生长最好。     

Staggers induced by consumption of perennial ryegrass in cattle and sheep from northern California

Staggers was diagnosed in sheep and cattle from the northern California coast. The diagnosis was made on the basis of history of ingestion of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) stubble, clinical signs of transient ataxia, which was aggravated by stimulation, and nearly complete recovery after removal of ryegrass as the primary forage. Morbidity was high, but death did not occur in any affected animals. The toxic endophyte, Acremonium lolii, was in most lower leaf sheaths from the ryegrass. Injection of extracts of the ryegrass from affected farms into mice induced signs of toxicosis. Additionally, ryegrass from all 3 farms contained the tremorgenic mycotoxin, lolitrem-B.