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Supplemental polyethylene glycol influences preferences of goats browsing blackbrush
Author
Titus, C. H.
Provenza, F. D.
Perevolotsky, A.
Silanikove, N.
Rogosic, J.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2001-03-01
Body

Supplemental polyethylene glycol (PEG) increases intake of foods high in tannins, but it is not known if PEG affects preference when herbivores forage on a variety of foods that differ in concentrations of macronutrients and tannins. We investigated how macronutrients, tannins, and PEG affected preferences of goats (Caprus hircus) for current season's and older growth twigs from the shrub blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima Torr.). In blackbrush, current season's twigs are higher than older twigs in macronutrients, but goats prefer older twigs because high levels of tannins in current season's twigs decrease preference. We conducted a pen trial and a paddock trial. During the 7-day pen trial, goats were offered current season's twigs and older twigs throughout the day. Eight goats were supplemented with 20 g PEG mixed with 100 g ground alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) pellets, and 8 goats were supplemented with 100 g ground alfalfa pellets. Goats supplemented with PEG ate more current season's twigs than goats that did not receive PEG (P = 0.04). During the 17-day paddock trial, 10 goats were supplemented with 50 g PEG mixed with ground alfalfa/barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and 10 goats were supplemented with ground alfalfa/barley. Goats supplemented with PEG preferred current season's to older twigs, whereas PEG-unsupplemented goats preferred older to current season's twigs (P = 0.0001). Goats had equal preference for juniper (Juniperus osteosperma Torr.) trees (P = 0.243). Collectively, our findings show that supplemental PEG can change food preferences. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2307/4003177
Additional Information
Titus, C. H., Provenza, F. D., Perevolotsky, A., Silanikove, N., & Rogosic, J. (2001). Supplemental polyethylene glycol influences preferences of goats browsing blackbrush. Journal of Range Management, 54(2), 161-165.
ISSN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/643850
Journal Volume
54
Journal Number
2
Journal Pages
161-165
Collection
Rangeland Ecology & Management (REM)
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
Coleogyne ramosissima
woody weeds
polyethylene glycol
nutrient content
stems
brush control
selective grazing
tannins
goats
Juniperus
feeding preferences
zero grazing
tannins
macronutrients
intake
shrubs