Using different preconditioning procedures and protein supplementation to increase redberry juniper intake by goats

Abstract

Both exposure at weaning and supplementation can increase intake of redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii Sudw.). When recently weaned sheep or goats are individually penned and fed redberry juniper for 14 d, intake of the plant increases. Unfortunately, this approach is labor intensive and impractical for most livestock producers. The objectives of this study were to determine if goats would accept juniper when conditioned in groups and if supplementation would further increase intake. Recently weaned Boer-Spanish cross goats (n = 40) were placed into two treatments of 20 animals each and fed juniper for 14 d. All goats were unfamiliar with juniper before initiation of the study. Twenty goats in one treatment were placed in individual pens, while the other 20 were separated into four groups (n = 5). In addition, 10 individuals from each treatment were fed additional protein (37% crude protein). Juniper was fed for 30 min daily for 14 d, along with alfalfa pellets (2.5% of body weight) to meet maintenance requirements. After feeding juniper for 14 d in individual pens or groups of five, all goats were placed in individual pens for 7 d to measure intake on an individual animal basis following preconditioning procedures. All goats increased intake (P < 0.05) daily. Goats fed juniper in groups increased intake at a faster rate until d 11. Thereafter, intake declined apparently because of overingestion and aversive postingestive feedback. In addition, supplementation did not affect juniper intake in this study. For conditioning an acceptance of redberry juniper as a dietary item, feeding goats in groups appears as effective as feeding in individual pens.