There is much we understand of legume condensed tannins (CT) as they relate to ruminant herbivore... more There is much we understand of legume condensed tannins (CT) as they relate to ruminant herbivores and their immediate tropical environment. Early evidence suggested that CT can be toxic to grazing ruminants and, in some circumstances, may decrease nutrient availability through protein astringency. We also know that CT can be beneficial, even to grazers, by increasing rumen-protein escape that then translates into greater milk protein secretion or reduced bloat, and that not all CT act in the same way. We have gradually come to understand that CT concentrations in herbaceous legumes can change with modifications in the growing environment. How this results in trophic interaction between foraging ruminants and legumes high or low in CT needs elucidation, especially on metapopulation scales. We know forage nutrient concentrations affect ruminant diet selection as does, possibly, CT polymerization. Ruminants also benefit from dietary CT in their battle against gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). What happens to CT of leguminous origin in ruminant feces may also be important to the long trophic chain from environment to plant, ruminant and then back to the soil. Where is the environment:CT:ruminant picture in the tropics today? It is complex and rich, but without a doubt, there are still many questions to answer.
Ticktrefoil (Desmodium) species from the USDA, ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit (PG... more Ticktrefoil (Desmodium) species from the USDA, ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit (PGRCU) germplasm collection in Griffin, GA, were evaluated for their potential livestock nutraceutical (nutritional + pharmaceutical) value in a field small plot study at the Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Agricultural Research Station, Fort Valley, GA. Horse marmalade (Desmodium discolor Vogel), greenleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium intortum [Mill.] Urb.), panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum [L.] DC.), Hawaii ticktrefoil (Desmodium sandwicense E. May) and twisted ticktrefoil (Desmodium tortuosum [Sw.] DC.) were established in a greenhouse and transplanted to field plots, with plant material from each species harvested, freeze‐dried, ground and analyzed for nutrient content and bioactivity. Crude protein (CP) levels in D. discolor and D. tortuosum averaged 233 g/kg, whereas CP in D. intortum, D. paniculatum and D. sandwicense ranged from 99 to 157 g/kg. The Desmodium species had in vitro true digestibility values of 755 to 878 g/kg. There were no detectable condensed tannins in D. discolor and D. tortuosum, whereas D. intortum, D. paniculatum and D. sandwicense averaged 88, 89 and 73 g/kg total condensed tannin, respectively. There were species differences in flavonoid content (p < .01), with the highest delphinidin and cyanidin concentrations in D. sandwicense and D. paniculatum, respectively. There were no detectable levels of delphinidin or cyanidin for D. discolor or D. tortuosum. Quercitin and kaempferol concentrations were highest in D. intortum and D. paniculatum, respectively, whereas D. discolor and D. tortuosum had the lowest values. The highest protein precipitable phenolics and total phenolic concentrations were for D. paniculatum. Desmodium species have potential as nutraceutical forage for livestock and warrant further investigation.
Lack of attention to rural healthcare for livestock in the southeastern United States has led to ... more Lack of attention to rural healthcare for livestock in the southeastern United States has led to a focus on small ruminant farming, mainly using sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours) G. Don], a drought-resistant forage species with nutraceutical benefits. Climate change has increased land availability for SL cultivation, further expanding the potential of this bioactive (anti-parasitic) legume. This study aims to create a geospatial engineering and technology-assisted model for identifying suitable SL production areas for supporting profitable small ruminant farming. The cultivation of SL depends on specific weather conditions and soil properties, with minimum requirements for temperature and rainfall, non-clay soil with reduced bulk density, and open land cover. The main objective was to develop an automated geospatial model using ArcGIS Pro ModelBuilder to assess SL production suitability. This model also aimed to identify appropriate locations for small ruminant pr...
The objective of this study was to estimate the magnitude of effects of the dietary inclusion of ... more The objective of this study was to estimate the magnitude of effects of the dietary inclusion of Peanut skins (PS) byproduct (Arachis hypogea L.) on intake, total-tract digestibility, and rumen fermentation of cattle via meta-analysis. Data were collected following the PRISMA methodology. Nine manuscripts and a graduate thesis met the inclusion criteria from 1983 to 2010. The effect size was estimated by calculating the weighted raw mean differences (RMD) between PS vs. control diets. The RMD was compared with a robust variance estimation method followed by a meta-regression and a dose-response analysis fitting the diet characteristics like crude protein (CP), NDF content, ether extract content (EE), PS level in diet (0 to 40%), and tannin content as covariates. Dietary PS decreased (P < 0.01) total-tract CP digestibility (52.0 vs. 64.3%), final body weight (371.5 vs. 397.9 kg), and average daily gain (1.14 vs. 1.44 kg/d) among treatment comparisons. Likewise, PS decreased total ...
This study was conducted to determine if excitability score (ES) in goats can influence their phy... more This study was conducted to determine if excitability score (ES) in goats can influence their physiological responses when subjected to stress. Thirty-six intact male Spanish goats (8-mo-old) were individually weighed and scored for excitability: 1 for calm (13 goats), 2 for moderately excitable (11 goats), and 3 for highly excitable (12 goats). To impose stress, goats were assigned to one of three treatments (TRT) for 90 min: (i) isolation in an open pen with metal grill panels, (ii) isolation in a pen with side panels covered using tarp sheets, and (iii) no isolation (control). Blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min of isolation and physiological data were analyzed using MIXED procedures in SAS. The data from the two isolation treatments were pooled and compared with that of the control group. Plasma cortisol and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations were the lowest in goats with ES 1 (p < 0.05). Neutrophil–lymphocyte ratios were also the lowest in goats with ...
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of peanut skin... more The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of peanut skins (PS) with and without polyphenols on the performance, rumen fermentation, and carcass characteristics of Florida-Native Sheep. Thirty-three intact lambs were randomly blocked by body weight (BW) (33.5 ± 0.1 kg; 11 lambs per treatment) and distributed in three isonitrogenous (17.1%) and isocaloric (2.5 Mcal/kg) diets: 1) Control diet, 2) Diet + 20% of intact peanut skins (IPS) and, 3) Diet + 20% of treated PS without polyphenols (TPS) for 42 d + 7 days of adaptation. Then, lambs were slaughtered to evaluate carcass characteristics and rumen fermentation. Dry matter intake (DMI), BW, and blood samples were collected and analyzed using the effects of treatment, week, interactions, and the random effect of animals. Dietary IPS and TPS did not (P > 0.05) affect DMI (1.14, 1.15 vs 1.04 kg/d) and final BW (35.9, 35.8 vs 36.8 kg) compared to the control. Dietary TPS reduced (P < 0.01) bl...
This study evaluated the effects of pre-slaughter transport stress on the rumen fermentation and ... more This study evaluated the effects of pre-slaughter transport stress on the rumen fermentation and bacterial community of growing meat goats. Fifty-four male Spanish growing meat goats (28.9 ± 4.5) were stratified by body weight and randomly assigned into three treatment groups (n = 18 per treatment; 1) No transport stress (CON), 2) Transport stress for 30 mins (LS), and 3) Transport stress for 3 h (HS). Blood samples were collected before and after transport to estimate plasma cortisol concentrations. At the end of the experiment, the goats were slaughtered to determine the carcass weight and to collect rumen ruminal content for pH, 16 sRNA gene sequencing, and volatile fatty acid profile. The Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size and the functional profiling software (PICRUst) were used to estimate the differentially abundant taxa and predicted the functional potential of the microbial community, respectively. Compared to CON, both LS and HS increased (P < 0.01) plasma c...
Information on improved forages for goat grazing is lacking for the southern USA. Two cafeteria-s... more Information on improved forages for goat grazing is lacking for the southern USA. Two cafeteria-style grazing trials were completed to determine preference of meat-type goats for cool-season annual clovers in Georgia. In both experiments, 8 replicates of 6 plots of clover cultivars were established, individually fenced, and grazed by Spanish goats for 48 hours during two grazing periods. Forage preference was determined by weighing strips of forage cut from plots pre- and post-grazing (Experiment 1) and by ocular scoring (1 = no grazing to 10 = completely grazed) after 4, 24 and 48 hours grazing (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, ‘Dixie’ and ‘AU Robin ’ crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) were most preferred, ‘AU Sunrise ’ crimson clover and ‘Yuchi ’ arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi) were intermediate, and ‘Segrest ’ ball clover (Trifolium nigrescens Viv.) and ‘R18 ' rose clover (Trifolium hirtum All.) were least preferred. Forage preference was not influenced by...
Background: Pine bark is a rich source of phytochemical compounds including tannins, phenolic aci... more Background: Pine bark is a rich source of phytochemical compounds including tannins, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and fatty acids. These phytochemicals have potential to significantly impact on animal health and animal production. The goal of this work is to measure the effects of tannins in ground pine bark as a partial feed replacement on feed intake, dietary apparent digestibility, nitrogen balance, and mineral retention in meat goats. Results: Eighteen Kiko cross goats (initial BW = 31.8 ± 1.49 kg) were randomly assigned to three treatment groups (n = 6). Dietary treatments were tested: control (0 % pine bark powder (PB) and 30 % wheat straw (WS)); 15 % PB and 15 % WS, and 30 % PB and 0 % WS. Although dry matter (DM) intake and digestibility were not affected (P > 0.10) by feeding PB, neutral detergent fiber (linear; P = 0.01), acid detergent fiber (linear; P = 0.001) and lignin digestibility (linear; P = 0.01) decreased, and crude protein (CP) digestibility tended to decrease (P = 0.09) as PB increased in the diet, apparent retention of Ca (P = 0.09), P (P = 0.03), Mg (P = 0.01), Mn (P = 0.01), Zn (P = 0.01) and Fe (P = 0.09) also increased linearly. Nitrogen intake and fecal N excretion were not affected (P > 0.05) by addition of PB in the diet, but N balance in the body was quadratically increased (P < 0.01) in the 15 % PB diet compared to other diets. This may be due to more rumen escape protein and less excreted N in the urine with the 15 % PB diet. The study showed that a moderate level of tannin-containing pine bark supplementation could improve gastrointestinal nitrogen balance with the aim of improving animal performance. Conclusion: These results suggest that tannin-containing PB has negative impact on fiber, lignin, and protein digestibility, but positively impacted on N-balance.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2008
Objective-To determine prevalence of anthelmintic resistance on sheep and goat farms in the south... more Objective-To determine prevalence of anthelmintic resistance on sheep and goat farms in the southeastern United States. Design-Cross-sectional study. Animals-Sheep and goats from 46 farms in 8 southern states, Puerto Rico, and St Croix in the US Virgin Islands. Procedures-Parasite eggs were isolated from fecal samples, and susceptibility to benzimidazole, imidathiazole, and avermectin-milbemycin anthelmintics was evaluated with a commercial larval development assay. Results-Haemonchus contortus was the most common parasite on 44 of 46 farms; Trichostrongy/us co/ubriformis was the second most commonly identified parasite. Haemonchus contortus from 45(98%), 25(54%), 35(76%), and 11(24%) farms were resistant to benzimidazole, levamisole, ivermectin, and moxidectin, respectively. Resistance to all 3 classes of anthelmintics was detected on 22 (48%) farms, and resistance to all 3 classes plus moxidectin was detected on 8 farms (17%). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Findings provided strong evidence that anthelmintic resistance is a serious problem on small ruminant farms throughout the southeastern United States. Owing to the frequent movement of animals among regions, the prevalence of resistance in other regions of the United States is likely to also be high. Consequently, testing of parasite eggs for anthelmintic resistance should be a routine part of parasite management on small ruminant farms.
The objectives of these experiments were to determine the optimal dose of copper oxide wire parti... more The objectives of these experiments were to determine the optimal dose of copper oxide wire particles (COWP) necessary to reduce gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection in young and mature goats naturally infected with Haemonchus contortus or a mixed infection and to determine whether the effectiveness could be enhanced through feeding management. Two experiments were conducted during cooler months in Georgia, and 4 experiments were conducted during warmer spring or summer months in Arkansas. Meat goats received 0 up to 10 g of COWP under a variety of management conditions. In all experiments, blood and feces were collected every 3 or 7 d from 6 to 42 d to determine blood packed cell volume (PCV) and fecal egg counts (FEC) to estimate the degree of GIN infection. In mature goats grazing fall pasture, mean FEC of 0 g of COWP-treated goats increased, and those of 4 g of COWP-treated goats remained low on d 0, 7, and 14 (COWP × d, P < 0.03), and FEC decreased on these days (P < 0.001). In 5 and 10 g of COWP-treated goats,
Goat production is increasing in the United States due to high ethnic demand, but infection with ... more Goat production is increasing in the United States due to high ethnic demand, but infection with gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) parasites is a major constraint to the industry. Increasing GIN resistance to chemical anthelmintics worldwide has led to the development of alternative control strategies, including use of forages containing condensed tannins (CT). An experiment was designed using infected and dewormed male kids (Kiko × Spanish, 6 mo old, 18.9 ± 3.25 kg) fed diets containing 25% concentrate and either 75% sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours.) G. Don], a high CT forage (87 to 181 g of CT/kg), or 75% bermudagrass [BG; Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] hay (n = 10/treatment). The kids were weighed every 14 d, and fecal and blood samples were taken weekly for fecal egg counts and packed cell volume determination, respectively. Fecal cultures were processed every 14 d to determine CT effect on larval development. At slaughter, adult GIN were collected from the abomasum and small intestines for counting and speciation. Blood samples were also analyzed for plasma urea-N, and ruminal VFA and pH were determined. The infected SL-fed kids had consistently lower (P < 0.05) fecal egg counts than the infected BG goats throughout the trial and greater (P < 0.05) packed cell volume beginning by d 77. Average daily gain was greater (P < 0.001) in kids fed SL-than BG-based diets, regardless of infection status (104.3 ± 5.0 and 75.5 ± 4.8 g/d, respectively). Total VFA and acetate concentrations were greater (P < 0.001) in the BG-than in SL-fed goats, whereas propionate levels were unaffected by diet. Acetate:propionate ratio (P = 0.01) and plasma urea-N (P = 0.03) levels were greater in BG-fed goats, whereas rumen pH was greater (P < 0.001) in the SL-fed goats. Feeding SL hay can reduce GIN infection levels and increase performance of goats compared with BG hay.
Site-specific forage management (SSFM), comprising growth observation, impact assessment, and tim... more Site-specific forage management (SSFM), comprising growth observation, impact assessment, and timely strategic response to small variations in sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours.) G. Don) production, has been envisioned as a life-changing approach for resource-poor (R-P) farmers in developing countries, assisting in the effective rearing of their small ruminants. The application of geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, global navigation satellite system, and information technology, can support SSFM but has not been widely used for site-specific forage management. From our previous studies, it appears that the entire range of condensed tannins of lespedeza, namely extractable condensed tannin (ECT), fiber-bound condensed tannin (FBCT), and protein-bound condensed tannin (PBCT), as well as crude protein (CP), are excellent for promoting small ruminant digestion and overall health. The goal of this study was to develop...
Site-specific forage management (SSFM), comprising growth observation, impact assessment, and tim... more Site-specific forage management (SSFM), comprising growth observation, impact assessment, and timely strategic response to small variations in sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours.) G. Don) production, has been envisioned as a life-changing approach for resource-poor (R-P) farmers in developing countries, assisting in the effective rearing of their small ruminants. The application of geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, global navigation satellite system, and information technology, can support SSFM but has not been widely used for site-specific forage management. From our previous studies, it appears that the entire range of condensed tannins of lespedeza, namely extractable condensed tannin (ECT), fiber-bound condensed tannin (FBCT), and protein-bound condensed tannin (PBCT), as well as crude protein (CP), are excellent for promoting small ruminant digestion and overall health. The goal of this study was to develop...
Food insecurity is a critical challenge for developing resource-poor farmers in Africa due to low... more Food insecurity is a critical challenge for developing resource-poor farmers in Africa due to low quality/quantity of fodder and animal production, parasitic/infectious diseases, and lack of expert assistance. Study objectives include evaluation of efficient growth potential of appropriate tannin-rich and anti-parasitic fodder legumes in southern Africa and testing telemetry to monitor animal activity related to disease outbreaks and real-time preliminary treatment support via smartphone APP. Developed automated-geospatial model predicted suitable spatial locations to grow sericea lespedeza for improving animal production systems. Transponder-signal analyses from sheep on two farms in South Africa helped develop ranges of signals for animal health and predator attack/poaching associated behavior. Software developed from signal ranges as an early-warning system for disease detection worked efficiently. It is being combined with the under-progress smartphone APP to deliver health warn...
Since the 1930’s and 1940’s, sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata), became a cultivated plant... more Since the 1930’s and 1940’s, sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata), became a cultivated plant in the USA. SL is a tannin-rich warm-season p erennial legume that has been called “Poor Man’s Alfalfa/Lucerne” because it can produce forage under poor environmental conditions. It has the ability to tolerate drought, infertile, acidic soils and grow well on sloping land with minimal lime and fertilizer input s. With recent research on the potential health and environmental benefits of including SL i n the diet of ruminant animals, this forage has earned a new nickname . Well-adapated to the warm, moist environment of the southern and eastern United States (U.S.) and the acid velds of southern Africa, this non-bloating forage also lowers ruminal methane production in gr azing livestock, reducing the contribution of this powerful greenhouse gas to glo ba warming. However, the main reason that it may be time to change SL’s name to “Smart M an’s Lucerne” is the effect of its tannins on in...
Infection with gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) is a primary constraint to economic goat producti... more Infection with gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) is a primary constraint to economic goat production in the southern USA. Anthelmintic resistance is highly prevalent in goat nematodes in this region, and non-chemical control methods are needed. Grazing of forages containing condensed tannins (CT) or feeding purified CT as part of the diet has shown potential for reducing parasite egg counts in faeces of sheep and goats, but little information is available on feeding hay from CT-containing forages. The anthelmintic potential of sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours.) G. Don] hay was evaluated in an 8-week feeding trial with goats. Twenty yearling Spanish-cross does were given a single challenge of 10,000 Haemonchus contortus infective (L3) larvae to boost their naturally acquired parasite load. After three weeks grazing, the does were moved to pens (5 animals per pen) and fed either ground sericea or bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] hay diets (treatment n = 10) bal...
Feeding condensed tannin (CT)-containing diets such as sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) and ... more Feeding condensed tannin (CT)-containing diets such as sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) and reducing stress have been reported to improve meat quality and food safety in goats. In a completely randomized design with split-plot, thirty-six uncastrated male Spanish goats were assigned to 3 dietary treatments (n = 12/treatment): ground ‘Serala’ sericea lespedeza hay (SER), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay (BG), or bermudagrass hay—dewormed goats (BG-DW; Control) at 75% of intake, with a corn-based supplementation (25%) for 8 weeks. Prior to slaughter, goats were either transported for 90 min to impose stress or held in pens. Basophil counts were lower (p < 0.01) in the SER group compared to BG or BG-DW groups suggesting a better anti-inflammatory capacity due to polyphenols in the SER diet. Compared to BG-DW group, cortisol level was higher (p < 0.05) and norepinephrine was lower (p < 0.05) in the SER group. The SER group had the lowest aerobic plate counts (APC) in bo...
There is much we understand of legume condensed tannins (CT) as they relate to ruminant herbivore... more There is much we understand of legume condensed tannins (CT) as they relate to ruminant herbivores and their immediate tropical environment. Early evidence suggested that CT can be toxic to grazing ruminants and, in some circumstances, may decrease nutrient availability through protein astringency. We also know that CT can be beneficial, even to grazers, by increasing rumen-protein escape that then translates into greater milk protein secretion or reduced bloat, and that not all CT act in the same way. We have gradually come to understand that CT concentrations in herbaceous legumes can change with modifications in the growing environment. How this results in trophic interaction between foraging ruminants and legumes high or low in CT needs elucidation, especially on metapopulation scales. We know forage nutrient concentrations affect ruminant diet selection as does, possibly, CT polymerization. Ruminants also benefit from dietary CT in their battle against gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). What happens to CT of leguminous origin in ruminant feces may also be important to the long trophic chain from environment to plant, ruminant and then back to the soil. Where is the environment:CT:ruminant picture in the tropics today? It is complex and rich, but without a doubt, there are still many questions to answer.
Ticktrefoil (Desmodium) species from the USDA, ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit (PG... more Ticktrefoil (Desmodium) species from the USDA, ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit (PGRCU) germplasm collection in Griffin, GA, were evaluated for their potential livestock nutraceutical (nutritional + pharmaceutical) value in a field small plot study at the Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Agricultural Research Station, Fort Valley, GA. Horse marmalade (Desmodium discolor Vogel), greenleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium intortum [Mill.] Urb.), panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum [L.] DC.), Hawaii ticktrefoil (Desmodium sandwicense E. May) and twisted ticktrefoil (Desmodium tortuosum [Sw.] DC.) were established in a greenhouse and transplanted to field plots, with plant material from each species harvested, freeze‐dried, ground and analyzed for nutrient content and bioactivity. Crude protein (CP) levels in D. discolor and D. tortuosum averaged 233 g/kg, whereas CP in D. intortum, D. paniculatum and D. sandwicense ranged from 99 to 157 g/kg. The Desmodium species had in vitro true digestibility values of 755 to 878 g/kg. There were no detectable condensed tannins in D. discolor and D. tortuosum, whereas D. intortum, D. paniculatum and D. sandwicense averaged 88, 89 and 73 g/kg total condensed tannin, respectively. There were species differences in flavonoid content (p &lt; .01), with the highest delphinidin and cyanidin concentrations in D. sandwicense and D. paniculatum, respectively. There were no detectable levels of delphinidin or cyanidin for D. discolor or D. tortuosum. Quercitin and kaempferol concentrations were highest in D. intortum and D. paniculatum, respectively, whereas D. discolor and D. tortuosum had the lowest values. The highest protein precipitable phenolics and total phenolic concentrations were for D. paniculatum. Desmodium species have potential as nutraceutical forage for livestock and warrant further investigation.
Lack of attention to rural healthcare for livestock in the southeastern United States has led to ... more Lack of attention to rural healthcare for livestock in the southeastern United States has led to a focus on small ruminant farming, mainly using sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours) G. Don], a drought-resistant forage species with nutraceutical benefits. Climate change has increased land availability for SL cultivation, further expanding the potential of this bioactive (anti-parasitic) legume. This study aims to create a geospatial engineering and technology-assisted model for identifying suitable SL production areas for supporting profitable small ruminant farming. The cultivation of SL depends on specific weather conditions and soil properties, with minimum requirements for temperature and rainfall, non-clay soil with reduced bulk density, and open land cover. The main objective was to develop an automated geospatial model using ArcGIS Pro ModelBuilder to assess SL production suitability. This model also aimed to identify appropriate locations for small ruminant pr...
The objective of this study was to estimate the magnitude of effects of the dietary inclusion of ... more The objective of this study was to estimate the magnitude of effects of the dietary inclusion of Peanut skins (PS) byproduct (Arachis hypogea L.) on intake, total-tract digestibility, and rumen fermentation of cattle via meta-analysis. Data were collected following the PRISMA methodology. Nine manuscripts and a graduate thesis met the inclusion criteria from 1983 to 2010. The effect size was estimated by calculating the weighted raw mean differences (RMD) between PS vs. control diets. The RMD was compared with a robust variance estimation method followed by a meta-regression and a dose-response analysis fitting the diet characteristics like crude protein (CP), NDF content, ether extract content (EE), PS level in diet (0 to 40%), and tannin content as covariates. Dietary PS decreased (P < 0.01) total-tract CP digestibility (52.0 vs. 64.3%), final body weight (371.5 vs. 397.9 kg), and average daily gain (1.14 vs. 1.44 kg/d) among treatment comparisons. Likewise, PS decreased total ...
This study was conducted to determine if excitability score (ES) in goats can influence their phy... more This study was conducted to determine if excitability score (ES) in goats can influence their physiological responses when subjected to stress. Thirty-six intact male Spanish goats (8-mo-old) were individually weighed and scored for excitability: 1 for calm (13 goats), 2 for moderately excitable (11 goats), and 3 for highly excitable (12 goats). To impose stress, goats were assigned to one of three treatments (TRT) for 90 min: (i) isolation in an open pen with metal grill panels, (ii) isolation in a pen with side panels covered using tarp sheets, and (iii) no isolation (control). Blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min of isolation and physiological data were analyzed using MIXED procedures in SAS. The data from the two isolation treatments were pooled and compared with that of the control group. Plasma cortisol and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations were the lowest in goats with ES 1 (p < 0.05). Neutrophil–lymphocyte ratios were also the lowest in goats with ...
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of peanut skin... more The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of peanut skins (PS) with and without polyphenols on the performance, rumen fermentation, and carcass characteristics of Florida-Native Sheep. Thirty-three intact lambs were randomly blocked by body weight (BW) (33.5 ± 0.1 kg; 11 lambs per treatment) and distributed in three isonitrogenous (17.1%) and isocaloric (2.5 Mcal/kg) diets: 1) Control diet, 2) Diet + 20% of intact peanut skins (IPS) and, 3) Diet + 20% of treated PS without polyphenols (TPS) for 42 d + 7 days of adaptation. Then, lambs were slaughtered to evaluate carcass characteristics and rumen fermentation. Dry matter intake (DMI), BW, and blood samples were collected and analyzed using the effects of treatment, week, interactions, and the random effect of animals. Dietary IPS and TPS did not (P > 0.05) affect DMI (1.14, 1.15 vs 1.04 kg/d) and final BW (35.9, 35.8 vs 36.8 kg) compared to the control. Dietary TPS reduced (P < 0.01) bl...
This study evaluated the effects of pre-slaughter transport stress on the rumen fermentation and ... more This study evaluated the effects of pre-slaughter transport stress on the rumen fermentation and bacterial community of growing meat goats. Fifty-four male Spanish growing meat goats (28.9 ± 4.5) were stratified by body weight and randomly assigned into three treatment groups (n = 18 per treatment; 1) No transport stress (CON), 2) Transport stress for 30 mins (LS), and 3) Transport stress for 3 h (HS). Blood samples were collected before and after transport to estimate plasma cortisol concentrations. At the end of the experiment, the goats were slaughtered to determine the carcass weight and to collect rumen ruminal content for pH, 16 sRNA gene sequencing, and volatile fatty acid profile. The Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size and the functional profiling software (PICRUst) were used to estimate the differentially abundant taxa and predicted the functional potential of the microbial community, respectively. Compared to CON, both LS and HS increased (P < 0.01) plasma c...
Information on improved forages for goat grazing is lacking for the southern USA. Two cafeteria-s... more Information on improved forages for goat grazing is lacking for the southern USA. Two cafeteria-style grazing trials were completed to determine preference of meat-type goats for cool-season annual clovers in Georgia. In both experiments, 8 replicates of 6 plots of clover cultivars were established, individually fenced, and grazed by Spanish goats for 48 hours during two grazing periods. Forage preference was determined by weighing strips of forage cut from plots pre- and post-grazing (Experiment 1) and by ocular scoring (1 = no grazing to 10 = completely grazed) after 4, 24 and 48 hours grazing (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, ‘Dixie’ and ‘AU Robin ’ crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) were most preferred, ‘AU Sunrise ’ crimson clover and ‘Yuchi ’ arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi) were intermediate, and ‘Segrest ’ ball clover (Trifolium nigrescens Viv.) and ‘R18 ' rose clover (Trifolium hirtum All.) were least preferred. Forage preference was not influenced by...
Background: Pine bark is a rich source of phytochemical compounds including tannins, phenolic aci... more Background: Pine bark is a rich source of phytochemical compounds including tannins, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and fatty acids. These phytochemicals have potential to significantly impact on animal health and animal production. The goal of this work is to measure the effects of tannins in ground pine bark as a partial feed replacement on feed intake, dietary apparent digestibility, nitrogen balance, and mineral retention in meat goats. Results: Eighteen Kiko cross goats (initial BW = 31.8 ± 1.49 kg) were randomly assigned to three treatment groups (n = 6). Dietary treatments were tested: control (0 % pine bark powder (PB) and 30 % wheat straw (WS)); 15 % PB and 15 % WS, and 30 % PB and 0 % WS. Although dry matter (DM) intake and digestibility were not affected (P > 0.10) by feeding PB, neutral detergent fiber (linear; P = 0.01), acid detergent fiber (linear; P = 0.001) and lignin digestibility (linear; P = 0.01) decreased, and crude protein (CP) digestibility tended to decrease (P = 0.09) as PB increased in the diet, apparent retention of Ca (P = 0.09), P (P = 0.03), Mg (P = 0.01), Mn (P = 0.01), Zn (P = 0.01) and Fe (P = 0.09) also increased linearly. Nitrogen intake and fecal N excretion were not affected (P > 0.05) by addition of PB in the diet, but N balance in the body was quadratically increased (P < 0.01) in the 15 % PB diet compared to other diets. This may be due to more rumen escape protein and less excreted N in the urine with the 15 % PB diet. The study showed that a moderate level of tannin-containing pine bark supplementation could improve gastrointestinal nitrogen balance with the aim of improving animal performance. Conclusion: These results suggest that tannin-containing PB has negative impact on fiber, lignin, and protein digestibility, but positively impacted on N-balance.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2008
Objective-To determine prevalence of anthelmintic resistance on sheep and goat farms in the south... more Objective-To determine prevalence of anthelmintic resistance on sheep and goat farms in the southeastern United States. Design-Cross-sectional study. Animals-Sheep and goats from 46 farms in 8 southern states, Puerto Rico, and St Croix in the US Virgin Islands. Procedures-Parasite eggs were isolated from fecal samples, and susceptibility to benzimidazole, imidathiazole, and avermectin-milbemycin anthelmintics was evaluated with a commercial larval development assay. Results-Haemonchus contortus was the most common parasite on 44 of 46 farms; Trichostrongy/us co/ubriformis was the second most commonly identified parasite. Haemonchus contortus from 45(98%), 25(54%), 35(76%), and 11(24%) farms were resistant to benzimidazole, levamisole, ivermectin, and moxidectin, respectively. Resistance to all 3 classes of anthelmintics was detected on 22 (48%) farms, and resistance to all 3 classes plus moxidectin was detected on 8 farms (17%). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Findings provided strong evidence that anthelmintic resistance is a serious problem on small ruminant farms throughout the southeastern United States. Owing to the frequent movement of animals among regions, the prevalence of resistance in other regions of the United States is likely to also be high. Consequently, testing of parasite eggs for anthelmintic resistance should be a routine part of parasite management on small ruminant farms.
The objectives of these experiments were to determine the optimal dose of copper oxide wire parti... more The objectives of these experiments were to determine the optimal dose of copper oxide wire particles (COWP) necessary to reduce gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection in young and mature goats naturally infected with Haemonchus contortus or a mixed infection and to determine whether the effectiveness could be enhanced through feeding management. Two experiments were conducted during cooler months in Georgia, and 4 experiments were conducted during warmer spring or summer months in Arkansas. Meat goats received 0 up to 10 g of COWP under a variety of management conditions. In all experiments, blood and feces were collected every 3 or 7 d from 6 to 42 d to determine blood packed cell volume (PCV) and fecal egg counts (FEC) to estimate the degree of GIN infection. In mature goats grazing fall pasture, mean FEC of 0 g of COWP-treated goats increased, and those of 4 g of COWP-treated goats remained low on d 0, 7, and 14 (COWP × d, P < 0.03), and FEC decreased on these days (P < 0.001). In 5 and 10 g of COWP-treated goats,
Goat production is increasing in the United States due to high ethnic demand, but infection with ... more Goat production is increasing in the United States due to high ethnic demand, but infection with gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) parasites is a major constraint to the industry. Increasing GIN resistance to chemical anthelmintics worldwide has led to the development of alternative control strategies, including use of forages containing condensed tannins (CT). An experiment was designed using infected and dewormed male kids (Kiko × Spanish, 6 mo old, 18.9 ± 3.25 kg) fed diets containing 25% concentrate and either 75% sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours.) G. Don], a high CT forage (87 to 181 g of CT/kg), or 75% bermudagrass [BG; Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] hay (n = 10/treatment). The kids were weighed every 14 d, and fecal and blood samples were taken weekly for fecal egg counts and packed cell volume determination, respectively. Fecal cultures were processed every 14 d to determine CT effect on larval development. At slaughter, adult GIN were collected from the abomasum and small intestines for counting and speciation. Blood samples were also analyzed for plasma urea-N, and ruminal VFA and pH were determined. The infected SL-fed kids had consistently lower (P < 0.05) fecal egg counts than the infected BG goats throughout the trial and greater (P < 0.05) packed cell volume beginning by d 77. Average daily gain was greater (P < 0.001) in kids fed SL-than BG-based diets, regardless of infection status (104.3 ± 5.0 and 75.5 ± 4.8 g/d, respectively). Total VFA and acetate concentrations were greater (P < 0.001) in the BG-than in SL-fed goats, whereas propionate levels were unaffected by diet. Acetate:propionate ratio (P = 0.01) and plasma urea-N (P = 0.03) levels were greater in BG-fed goats, whereas rumen pH was greater (P < 0.001) in the SL-fed goats. Feeding SL hay can reduce GIN infection levels and increase performance of goats compared with BG hay.
Site-specific forage management (SSFM), comprising growth observation, impact assessment, and tim... more Site-specific forage management (SSFM), comprising growth observation, impact assessment, and timely strategic response to small variations in sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours.) G. Don) production, has been envisioned as a life-changing approach for resource-poor (R-P) farmers in developing countries, assisting in the effective rearing of their small ruminants. The application of geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, global navigation satellite system, and information technology, can support SSFM but has not been widely used for site-specific forage management. From our previous studies, it appears that the entire range of condensed tannins of lespedeza, namely extractable condensed tannin (ECT), fiber-bound condensed tannin (FBCT), and protein-bound condensed tannin (PBCT), as well as crude protein (CP), are excellent for promoting small ruminant digestion and overall health. The goal of this study was to develop...
Site-specific forage management (SSFM), comprising growth observation, impact assessment, and tim... more Site-specific forage management (SSFM), comprising growth observation, impact assessment, and timely strategic response to small variations in sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours.) G. Don) production, has been envisioned as a life-changing approach for resource-poor (R-P) farmers in developing countries, assisting in the effective rearing of their small ruminants. The application of geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, global navigation satellite system, and information technology, can support SSFM but has not been widely used for site-specific forage management. From our previous studies, it appears that the entire range of condensed tannins of lespedeza, namely extractable condensed tannin (ECT), fiber-bound condensed tannin (FBCT), and protein-bound condensed tannin (PBCT), as well as crude protein (CP), are excellent for promoting small ruminant digestion and overall health. The goal of this study was to develop...
Food insecurity is a critical challenge for developing resource-poor farmers in Africa due to low... more Food insecurity is a critical challenge for developing resource-poor farmers in Africa due to low quality/quantity of fodder and animal production, parasitic/infectious diseases, and lack of expert assistance. Study objectives include evaluation of efficient growth potential of appropriate tannin-rich and anti-parasitic fodder legumes in southern Africa and testing telemetry to monitor animal activity related to disease outbreaks and real-time preliminary treatment support via smartphone APP. Developed automated-geospatial model predicted suitable spatial locations to grow sericea lespedeza for improving animal production systems. Transponder-signal analyses from sheep on two farms in South Africa helped develop ranges of signals for animal health and predator attack/poaching associated behavior. Software developed from signal ranges as an early-warning system for disease detection worked efficiently. It is being combined with the under-progress smartphone APP to deliver health warn...
Since the 1930’s and 1940’s, sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata), became a cultivated plant... more Since the 1930’s and 1940’s, sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata), became a cultivated plant in the USA. SL is a tannin-rich warm-season p erennial legume that has been called “Poor Man’s Alfalfa/Lucerne” because it can produce forage under poor environmental conditions. It has the ability to tolerate drought, infertile, acidic soils and grow well on sloping land with minimal lime and fertilizer input s. With recent research on the potential health and environmental benefits of including SL i n the diet of ruminant animals, this forage has earned a new nickname . Well-adapated to the warm, moist environment of the southern and eastern United States (U.S.) and the acid velds of southern Africa, this non-bloating forage also lowers ruminal methane production in gr azing livestock, reducing the contribution of this powerful greenhouse gas to glo ba warming. However, the main reason that it may be time to change SL’s name to “Smart M an’s Lucerne” is the effect of its tannins on in...
Infection with gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) is a primary constraint to economic goat producti... more Infection with gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) is a primary constraint to economic goat production in the southern USA. Anthelmintic resistance is highly prevalent in goat nematodes in this region, and non-chemical control methods are needed. Grazing of forages containing condensed tannins (CT) or feeding purified CT as part of the diet has shown potential for reducing parasite egg counts in faeces of sheep and goats, but little information is available on feeding hay from CT-containing forages. The anthelmintic potential of sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours.) G. Don] hay was evaluated in an 8-week feeding trial with goats. Twenty yearling Spanish-cross does were given a single challenge of 10,000 Haemonchus contortus infective (L3) larvae to boost their naturally acquired parasite load. After three weeks grazing, the does were moved to pens (5 animals per pen) and fed either ground sericea or bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] hay diets (treatment n = 10) bal...
Feeding condensed tannin (CT)-containing diets such as sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) and ... more Feeding condensed tannin (CT)-containing diets such as sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) and reducing stress have been reported to improve meat quality and food safety in goats. In a completely randomized design with split-plot, thirty-six uncastrated male Spanish goats were assigned to 3 dietary treatments (n = 12/treatment): ground ‘Serala’ sericea lespedeza hay (SER), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay (BG), or bermudagrass hay—dewormed goats (BG-DW; Control) at 75% of intake, with a corn-based supplementation (25%) for 8 weeks. Prior to slaughter, goats were either transported for 90 min to impose stress or held in pens. Basophil counts were lower (p < 0.01) in the SER group compared to BG or BG-DW groups suggesting a better anti-inflammatory capacity due to polyphenols in the SER diet. Compared to BG-DW group, cortisol level was higher (p < 0.05) and norepinephrine was lower (p < 0.05) in the SER group. The SER group had the lowest aerobic plate counts (APC) in bo...
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