Protein supplementation improves juniper intake, particularly when the protein source is comprised of amino acids that partially escape rumen degradation. The purpose of this study was to determine if dosing with specific amino acids that typically escape rumen degradation will further improve juniper consumption. Freshly weaned Boer-cross goats were placed in individual pens and fed juniper for 30 min each day for 14 days. Goats were randomly divided into five treatment groups. Treatments received different amino acids in an aqueous solution prior to feeding juniper each day. Treatment 1 as dosed with the arginine; Treatment 2 was dosed with glutamine, while Treatment 3 was dosed with proline. Arginine, glutamine, and proline are considered glucogenic amino acids. These amino acids can provide the substrate for toxin excretion by the liver in some poisonous plant situations. Treatment 4 was dosed with leucine (non-glucogenic amino acid), and Treatment 5 did not receive any additional source of amino acids. All goats received a complete basal ration (2.5% BW) after feeding juniper each day to meet maintenance requirements. Dosing with the amino acids used in this study did not improve juniper intake. All goats increased intake daily across the 14 days of feeding regardless of treatment and gained weight throughout the course of the study.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.