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Effects of using ground redberry juniper and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) in Rambouillet lamb (n = 45) feedlot diets on growth, blood serum, fecal, and wool characteristics were evaluated. In a randomized design study with 2 feeding periods (Period 1 = 64% concentrate diet, 35 d; Period 2 = 85% concentrate diet, 56 d), lambs were individually fed 5 isonitrogenous diets: a control diet (CNTL) that contained oat hay but not DDGS or juniper or DDGS-based diets in which 0 (0JUN), 33 (33JUN), 66 (66JUN), or 100% (100JUN) of the oat hay was replaced by juniper. During Period 1, lambs fed CNTL had greater (P 0.41). Compared to 0JUN, lambs fed CNTL had similar (P = 0.12) G:F and tended to have less G:F (P = 0.07) than lambs fed DDGS-based diets. Among lambs fed DDGS-based diets, DMI was similar (P > 0.19), ADG increased linearly (P = 0.03), and G:F tended to decrease quadratically (P = 0.06) as juniper increased in the diet. Serum IGF-1, serum urea N (SUN), and fecal N were greater (P 0.13) for lambs fed CNTL vs. lambs fed DDGS-based diets (CNTL). Within lambs fed DDGS-based diets, SUN increased quadratically (P = 0.01) and fecal N increased linearly (P = 0.004), which can partially be attributed to increased dietary urea and condensed tannin intake. Most wool characteristics were not affected, but wool growth per kilogram of BW decreased quadratically (P = 0.04) as percentage of juniper increased in the DDGS-based diets. When evaluating the entire 91-d feeding trial, results indicated that replacing all of the ground oat hay with ground juniper leaves and stems in lamb growing and finishing diets is not detrimental to animal performance and that DDGS-based diets can reduce total feedlot costs, as compared to sorghum grain and cottonseed meal-based diets. However, compared to using juniper or oat hay as the sole roughage source, using both during the growing period (Period 1) enhanced growth performance and further reduced total feedlot costs.

We conducted this study to describe the intermediate-term periodicities in percentage juniper (Juniperus spp.) in goat diets and to develop optimal sampling schemes to estimate individual animal variation in juniper consumption. Fecal samples were collected from 12 multiparous female Angora goats on Monday and Thursday for a 24-mo period. Percentage juniper in the diet was determined using fecal near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Spectral analysis was used to determine the presence and length of cyclic variation in juniper consumption during growing and dormant season periods. Significant periodicities were found for 37% and 68% of the goats in the dormant and growing seasons, respectively. Cycle lengths varied from 9 d in the dormant season to 7 or 8 d in the growing season. The simple coefficient of determination between a two-sample moving average and the mean of all observations on individual goats was highest during a 3-mo period in the spring, which indicates that samples collected in the spring provided the best estimate of the yearlong percentage juniper in the diet. Monte Carlo simulations for 7-d cycles showed the root mean squared difference between estimated and population mean for two samples with 2 or 3 d between samples was only 1% greater than the root mean square difference for three or four samples collected every other day. The optimal sampling strategy for determining the dietary percentage of a species is to collect two samples separated by one-half of the cycle length.

Effects of percentage of roughage on growth, serum urea N, NEFA, and IGF-1 concentrations and wool, carcass, and fatty acid (FA) characteristics were investigated in Rambouillet wether lambs (n = 33). Lambs were individually fed ad libitum pelleted diets for 98 d containing 40% dried distillers grains and other ingredients, with 10% (CSH10), 20% (CSH20), or 30% (CSH30) cottonseed hulls replacing an increasing amount of ground sorghum grain. Results indicated no interaction between diet and day for lamb BW, ADG, or G:F. Percentage of roughage did not affect lamb BW, even though ADG linearly increased (P = 0.005) as cottonseed hulls increased in the diet. Increasing percentage of cottonseed hulls in the diet linearly increased (P 0.45) for serum urea N, NEFA, or IGF-1 concentrations. Serum urea N linearly increased (P = 0.005) as percentage of cottonseed hulls increased in the diet. All lambs had similar NEFA concentrations, but serum IGF-1 linearly decreased (P = 0.001) as percentage of cottonseed hulls increased in the diet. Lambs had similar wool fiber characteristics except that average fiber curvature and SD of fiber curvature linearly increased (P = 0.03) as percentage of cottonseed hulls increased in the diet. Carcass characteristics and sensory panel traits were not affected (P > 0.19) by diet, except for body wall thickness (quadratic, P = 0.03) and a linear decrease in sustained tenderness (P = 0.02) as the percentage of cottonseed hulls increased in the diet. As cottonseed hulls increased in the diet, percentages of myristic and palmitoleic (linear, P < 0.05) and arachidic SFA (quadratic, P = 0.03) decreased and cis-9,trans-11 CLA increased (linear, P = 0.007). When sorghum grain and cottonseed hull prices are similar to those reported for this study, lamb feeders are advised to use the CSH30 diet vs. CSH10 or CSH20 diets because even though DMI was greater for lambs consuming CSH30 diet, those lambs had greater ADG and the least cost of feed x kg(-1) of BW gain.

Data from goats (n = 505), collected over a 4-yr period, were used to estimate the heritability of juniper consumption. Juniper consumption was determined by near-infrared spectroscopy on fecal samples (n = 1,080) collected from female Boer-cross goats grazing pastures with a variety of plants, including juniper. The animals with records were progeny of 72 sires. Individual goats had from 1 to 4 observations over a 4-yr period. Predicted juniper consumption for individual observations ranged from -5 to +62% of the diet. Data were analyzed with a mixed model that included management group as a fixed effect, BW as a covariate, and permanent environment, animal, and residual as random effects. Management group was a significant source of variation. Least squares means of juniper consumption, as a percentage of the total intake, for management groups varied from 19 to 47%. Heritability of juniper consumption was 13%. Repeatability of juniper consumption was 31%. These results suggest that progress to selection for goats that will consume greater amounts of juniper is obtainable, but is expected to be slow.

Castrated Angora kids ( n = 210, initial BW = 25.4 ± 4.0 kg) approximately 7 months of age were used in two consecutive years (2002 and 2003) to evaluate three production systems and coats in terms of animal performance, carcass traits, mohair production and quality, and production costs. In both years, half the animals were assigned to an innovative feeding system (RF) that consisted of an open-sided barn having a raised, slatted floor, and the remaining goats were assigned in equal numbers to traditional feedlot (FL) and pasture (P) systems. Half the goats in each system were fitted with coats. Treatments and coat groups were blocked by body weight. The FL and RF goats had ad libitum access to rations formulated to produce high and moderate growth rates, respectively. Goats in the P treatment were supplemented three times a week to produce moderate growth. After shearing, fleeces were weighed and fully characterized using objective measurements. In 2002 (only), the goats were slaughtered and carcass traits were measured. The rations and supplements were formulated to produce weight gains and fleece weights that should have ranked FL > RF ≥ P. In fact, the FL and RF goats gained faster and grew more than the P goats. Overall gain rates were 124, 61, and 135 g/day for FL, P, and RF, respectively, while corresponding shorn body weights were 37, 30, and 38 kg. The larger animals in the FL and RF systems produced more mohair than goats in the P system (3.3 kg versus 2.8 kg, greasy). Mohair from RF goats was coarser than that from P goats (31.5 μm versus 29.6 μm) and contained lower curvature (18.8°/mm versus 20.6°/mm). System did not affect any of the other measured traits including scoured yield, mohair production efficiency (mohair production/kg BW), medullation, staple length, or any of the measures of trait variability (CV). System had no effect on dressing percentage but the consistent trend for carcass weight, back fat thickness, and body wall thickness, was consistent with live weights, FL = RF > P. As planned, coated produced higher yielding (74% versus 71%) fleeces compared to those from uncoated animals. Coats did not affect any other measured trait. Fiber and meat production were most expensive in the RF system and least expensive in the P system. Even with coats, mohair produced in the FL and P systems was not clean enough to qualify for the hand spinner niche market. The RF coated fleeces exhibited exceptional visual cleanliness that permitted them to be sold for several multiples of the prevailing mohair commodity price.

The potential for winter supplementation to increase juniper intake by goats on rangelands in the Edwards Plateau region of Texas was assessed in two experiments. The first experiment evaluated the effect on juniper intake of either no supplementation (negative control) or supplementation with corn, alfalfa, or cottonseed meal fed at an isonitrogenous protein level of 1.5 g · kg body weight−1 for 12 days. Redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii Sudw.) consumption by individually penned Spanish, Boer × Spanish, Spanish × Angora, and Angora goats was measured on days 11 and 12. Each goat received each supplement in a complete 4 × 4 Latin square design. Juniper intake increased for goats supplemented with alfalfa and cottonseed meal (P = 0.001), but not for those supplemented with corn (P = 0.944). Boer × Spanish goats did not differ in levels of consumption (P = 0.085) from the other breeds. A second study investigated the effect of either no supplementation or soybean meal supplementation on juniper...

The effects of breed, sex, and age of goats on fecal near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy-predicted percentage juniper in the diet were investigated, as were spectral differences in feces from goats differing in estimated genetic merit for juniper consumption. Eleven goats from each breed, sex, and age combination, representing 2 breeds (Angora and meat-type), 3 sex classifications (female, intact male, and castrated male), and 2 age categories [adult and kid (less than 12 mo of age)] were fed complete, pelleted rations containing 0 or 14% juniper. After 7 d on the same diet, fecal samples were collected for 3 d, and the spectra from the 3 replicate samples were averaged. Fecal samples were assigned to calibration or validation data sets. In a second experiment, Angora and meat goats with high or low estimated genetic merit for juniper consumption were fed the same diet to determine the effect of consumer group on fecal spectra. Feces were scanned in the 1,100- to 2,500-nm range with a scanning reflectance monochromator. Fecal spectra were analyzed for the difference in spectral characteristics and for differences in predicted juniper in the diet using internal and independent calibration equations. Internal calibration had a high precision (R(2) = 0.94), but the precision of independent validations (r(2) = 0.56) was low. Spectral differences were affected by diet, sex, breed, and age (P < 0.04). However, diet was the largest source of variation in spectral differences. Predicted percentage of juniper in the diet also showed that diet was the largest source of variation, accounting for 95% of the variation in predictions from internal calibrations and 51% of the variation in independent validations. Predictions from independent calibrations readily detected differences (P < 0.001) in the percentage of juniper in the 2 diets, and the predicted differences were similar to the actual differences. Predicted juniper in the diet was also affected by sex. Feces from goats from different juniper consumer groups fed a common diet were spectrally different, and the difference may have resulted from a greater intake by high- compared with low-juniper-consuming goats. Fecal near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy predictions of botanical composition of diets should be considered an interval scale of measurement.

The objectives of this study were to describe and compare means and measures of variability of fiber characteristics and fiber production between genetically furred and furless rabbits and among classes of furless rabbits. An F1 generation of rabbits was produced by mating New Zealand White does to a rare, furless Mini Lop buck. All F1 offspring had normal coats of fur. Inter se random matings of the F1 stock (barring full-sibling matings) were made to produce the F2 generation that consisted of approximately 75% furred and 25% furless progeny. Furless animals were further subjectively classified into 3 distinct classes (1 to 3) having increasingly more fur. In yr 1, 17 furred and 20 furless rabbits (age 28 to 49 d) were randomly assigned to growing pens, and in yr 2, 17 additional furless and 9 additional furred rabbits were included to increase the size. After 6 wk, the rabbits were weighed, and a measured area of fur (approximately 20 cm2) was shorn from the left flank of each rabbit. This fiber was weighed and measured for staple length, fiber diameter, prickle factor (% of fibers > 30 microm in diameter), and fiber curvature. Fiber production per unit area of skin was calculated and fiber production per animal was estimated. In yr 2, all of the furless and 2 of the furred rabbits were shorn over their entire bodies to obtain direct measurements of total fur weight. Furless rabbits were 9% heavier (1,941 vs. 1,783 g of BW, P < 0.01) and produced approximately 90% less fiber per unit area of skin than furred rabbits (1.74 vs. 15.83 mg/cm2, P < 0.01). The fibers from furless rabbits were shorter (1.54 vs. 2.56 cm, P < 0.01) and coarser (15.8 vs. 14.5 microm diameter, P < 0.01) than those from furred rabbits and exhibited greater prickle factor (11.3 vs. 3.5%, P < 0.01) and curvature values (47.5 vs. 38.5 deg/mm, P < 0.01). Class 3 furless rabbits were heavier than rabbits of classes 1 and 2 (2,075 vs. 1,817 and 1,981 g of BW, respectively, P < 0.05). Means for actual total fiber production per animal for classes 1 to 3 were 0.64, 2.07, and 8.68 g, respectively, compared with 23.0 g for furred rabbits (P < 0.01). Although some similarities were present, several of the correlations involving fiber properties and BW were substantially different (e.g., BW vs. staple length and fiber diameter vs. weight of fiber per unit area) for furred and furless groups. These results, and those reported elsewhere from a series of experiments, support the potential for production of furless rabbits in arid and tropical environments.

A study was conducted to establish a comprehensive profile of US Huacaya Alpaca fiber characteristics that could be useful for educational, promotional, policy, selection, and breeding purposes. Specifically, the means, distributions, and ranges of 23 fiber characteristics and body weight of a representative sample (n = 585) of US Alpacas were measured or calculated using internationally accepted objective test methods. Animals in specified age groups and of known sex representing six geographical regions in the USA were weighed and sampled in approximate proportion to their population density in the respective regions. Fiber samples were shorn from the mid-side of the Alpacas, representing female, male, and castrated male registered animals in the three age categories: 1- and 2-year-old and adult Alpacas. Each sample was measured for mean fiber diameter, prickle factor, comfort factor, mean fiber curvature, medullation (white and light fawn samples only), laboratory scoured yield, mean staple length, mean staple strength, position of break, and resistance to compression. In addition, yellowness and brightness were measured on the white samples and color differences were measured on the colored samples using a colorimeter. With one exception (laboratory scoured yield), the measured characteristics exhibited considerable variability. The only difference in fiber characteristics that was attributable to sex was mean staple strength. Males produced stronger fibers than females. In contrast, differences due to age were apparent for all but two of the measured traits, these being coefficient of variation of staple length and resistance to compression. Compared to wool of comparable fineness, the Alpaca was shown to be higher yielding, more heavily medullated (a distinctive feature of Alpaca), longer, and considerably stronger. Resistance to compression was invariably lower for Alpaca compared to wool of comparable fiber diameter likely due to the lower levels of crimp in the Alpaca fibers.

An experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of five sire breeds (Dorset, Finnsheep, Romanov, Texel, and Montadale), two dam breeds (Composite III [CIII] and northwestern whiteface [WF]), and three shearing seasons (December, February, and April, corresponding to August, October, and December breeding seasons) and their interactions on wool and other characteristics of F1 ewes. Fleeces were collected and characterized from six 2-yr-old F1 ewes representing each of the 90 sire breed x dam breed x shearing season x year (three) subclasses. Characteristics measured objectively were grease and clean fleece weights, clean yield, mean fiber diameter and SD, and mean staple length and SD. Visual assessments of fleece color were also made. Data collected on the F1 ewes were analyzed using a mixed model analysis of variance procedure. The model included fixed effects of year of birth, sire breed, dam breed, shearing season, six two-way interactions, and the three-way interaction of sire breed x dam breed x shearing season. The random effect of individual sire within year of birth x sire breed was also fitted. Texel- and Montadale-sired ewes produced more clean wool (P < 0.05) (approximately 0.24 kg) than Dorset-, Finnsheep-, and Romanov-sired ewes. Texel-sired ewes produced the coarsest wool (28.7 microm) (P < 0.05), whereas Romanov-sired ewes produced the finest (24.9 microm) and longest (9.12 cm) fleeces (P < 0.05). Ewes from WF dams produced more and finer wool (0.15 kg and 2.7 microm) than ewes from CIII dams (P < 0.001). Ewes shorn in December produced more, coarser, and longer wool (P < 0.05) than those shorn in February and April. This trend in wool production is opposite to that in conception rate (reported previously). Romanov-sired ewes produced the lowest percentage of white fleeces (62.6%), whereas Dorset-sired ewes produced the most (P < 0.001) white fleeces (96.3%). Estimates of heritability were calculated for grease and clean fleece weights (0.36), percentage of clean yield (0.31), average fiber diameter and SD (0.86 and 0.42, respectively), and average staple length and SD (0.49 and 0.00, respectively). Although necessary for a thorough evaluation of these 10 types of crossbred ewes, it is estimated that wool income would only constitute a small portion (1 to 5%) of overall income from sheep of this type.

Rambouillet lambs were assigned to three production systems varying in physical environment and diet: RF (a new, raised-floor feeding structure, with animals fed a pelleted mixture of 85% oat hay, 7.5% barley and 7.5% molasses); FL (a feedlot, with animals fed high-concentrate rations); and P (a pasture, with animals given access to the pasture and a high-concentrate supplement). Lengths of time on feed were adjusted to produce similar final shorn weights for each system. Ground meat patties were made with knife-separable lean from hind legs and aerobically refrigerated. Fat content of patties was not significantly different between RF and FL or P, while total unsaturated fatty acid percentage was slightly lower (P

Experiments reporting incidence of medullated fiber in mohair were reviewed. Genetics, nutrition, season and disease have been implicated in affecting medullation levels which are variable within fleeces. To measure medullation accurately, representative samples of the whole fleece must be measured. Subjective medullation scores are of limited value since they are not highly correlated with actual measurements of medullation. Progress towards reducing medullated fibers in mohair is possible by selection of animals older than one year of age. The environmental factors nutrition, geographical location and disease have minimal effects on medullated fiber production. Effects of season and management on medullation are not clear.

Rambouillet and Merino×Rambouillet lambs were assigned to production systems varying in physical environment and diet: RF (raised-floor, open-sided barn/85% oat hay-10% wheat-5% molasses), FL (feedlot/high-concentrate), and P (pasture/grazing plus supplement). Although treatment duration was varied to produce similar final weights, RF lambs were heavier than P lambs, but dressing percentages were similar. Backfat thickness was less with P and for Merino cross lambs. RF feed was higher in saturated fatty acids (SFA) percentage than FL feed and P supplement, but lower compared to pasture plants. For both breed types, muscle tissue from RF was higher in SFA and lower in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) percentage than that from FL or P. In adipose tissue, SFA and PUFA tended to be higher and monounsaturated fatty acids were lower with RF for Merino cross lambs. Nevertheless, 16:0 or 18:1 percentage differences among P, FL and RF lamb tissue samples were minor vs. large variations among their respective diets.

In response to increasing commercial interest and the high market value of qiviut (the downy underwool of the muskox), we have employed standards and measurements used in the wool and cashmere industries to describe qiviut fiber characteristics. Fleece samples (qiviut with guard hair) were shaved from the midshoulder of 299 wild muskox hides of known sex and age (1, 2, 3, and 4+ yr) during the Banks Island, Canada, muskox harvest in November 1997. Samples were analyzed for fiber diameter distribution of raw fiber and qiviut, scoured and qiviut yields, and lengths of guard hair and qiviut fiber. We found a sex x age interaction for average fiber diameter (AFD) in raw fiber (P= 0.002) and qiviut (P0.001) only. Adult males had significantly coarser AFD than females (21.5 microm, males vs 20.1 microm, females and 18.2 microm, males vs 17.5 microm, females) for raw fiber and qiviut, respectively. Qiviut AFD from yearlings was 1.7 microm finer than the AFD of adult qiviut. Fiber diameter distribution (SD) decreased with age in the raw sample (P0.003) and qiviut (P0.001) and qiviut SD was greater (P0.001) in males than in females. Qiviut theoretical yield (% mass of fibersor = 30 microm) increased (P0.001) with age, and females had higher theoretical yields than males (P0.001). Scoured yield did not vary between sexes in any age class and averaged 93.3%. Qiviut staple length did not differ with either age or sex. In summary, differences between the sexes were small up to the 3rd yr, and these differences were not likely to be of commercial importance. However, considering that AFD is a primary commercial criterion of value, AFD changes from 16.5 microm in yearlings to 18.2 microm in adults and from 17.5 microm in adult females to 18.2 microm in adult males would be expected to result in significant differences in commercial value.

Two hundred castrated male Angora goats (18 mo of age) were divided equally between rangeland sites in the oak savannah of the Edwards Plateau (EP) and the mixed-brush shrublands of the South Texas Plains (STP) for 5 yr to study influence of environment and age on body weight (BW), mohair production, and mohair fiber characteristics. Goats were grazed on rangeland typical of the respective regions and were given typical management that included shearing in February and July or August of each year. Shorn goats were weighed and individual fleeces were measured for grease weight (GFW), clean yield (CMFP), average fiber diameter (AFD), and proportion of medullated fibers, med (MFP) and kemp (KFP). Rainfall and maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded daily at each site. The AFD (P = .01) and its associated SD (P < .001) and kemp levels (P = .03) were all higher at the STP than at the EP site (39.4 vs 37.9 microns, 10.4 vs 11.1 microns, and .80 vs .68%, respectively). Angora goats at EP weighed less (38.1 vs 41.7 kg, P = .03), and sheared less (1.90 vs 2.22 kg, P = .01), finer (36.4 vs 39.3 microns, P < .001), and less kempy (.52 vs .84%, P < .001) mohair at the February shearing than at the August shearing. No seasonal differences in body weight or in mohair production or quality were apparent at STP. The proportions of total variation in grease mohair production (30.6%), CMFP (22.2%), and AFD (15.7%) due to year effects were two to three times greater at STP than at EP. In contrast, year effects were responsible for only a small proportion (2.2 to 4.6%) of the variation in medullated fibers. The effects of rainfall accumulation within specific 6-mo growing periods were positive for BW, GFW, CFW, AFD, SD of AFD and MFP and negative for CMFP and KFP. Only the rainfall effects on SD of AFD and medullated fibers were significant (P < .05). The effects of age were positive for BW (P < .001), CMFP (P = .046), AFD (P < .001), MFP (P = .014), and KFP (P = .084) and negative for GFW (P = .046) and CFW (P = .107). This study documents influence of environment and age of goats on body weight, mohair production, and fiber characteristics.

The objective of this study was to compare weight and quality of fleeces of different F 1 ewe types produced from breeds with a broad range of fleece types. Weights of 629 fleeces produced during 1988 through 1991 from F 1 ewes that were daughters of Suffolk and Targhee dams and Finnsheep, Combo-6, Booroola Merino, St. Croix, and Barbados sires were recorded. Staple length was measured on the mid-side of each ewe present in 1991. Fleeces shorn in 1991 were sent to a wool marketing organization, and staple length, wool grade, and clean fleece yield were subjectively estimated (n = 220). Mid-side fleece samples were collected from no more than two randomly selected ewes from each subclass (breed of dam-breed of sire-age of ewe) in 1991 (n = 78) and sent to a wool laboratory where fiber diameter, yield, and percentage of colored, med, and kemp fibers were objectively determined. Ewes from Targhee dams produced fleeces with greater weight, greater fiber length, smaller fiber diameter, lower yield, and fewer colored fibers than ewes from Suffolk dams (all differences significant, P

We evaluated the effects of replacing some soybean meal (SBM) protein with fish meal (FM) protein in diets adequate and slightly deficient in CP, with or without .75% sodium bentonite (NaB) on performance and ruminal and blood metabolites of individually fed Suffolk lambs. Diets were based on corn, SBM, and cottonseed hulls. In Exp. 1, five lambs were assigned to each of the three dietary treatments (11% CP with 3% FM, 13% CP with 0 or 3% FM). Lambs fed diets that contained 11% CP with 3% FM or 13% CP with 0% FM had similar DMI and ADG. Gain and feed efficiency were slightly improved (P = .18) by the 13% CP diet with 3% FM. In Exp. 2, 32 lambs were assigned to four dietary treatments (13.5% CP of DM) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement (0 or 3% FM, and 0 or .75% NaB on an as-fed basis). The DMI and ADG were increased (P < .05) by FM and NaB supplementation. Interactions (P < .05) revealed that NaB increased DMI, ADG, gain per feed (g/kg of DMI), and plasma urea N concentration in the absence of FM but not in the presence of FM in the diet. Neither FM nor NaB influenced (P = .25) wool growth. Total ruminal VFA were increased (P < .06) by FM and NaB. Differences in mineral content of phalanx bone, liver, and kidney were small and may be related to the mineral content of diets and the effect of NaB on mineral solubilities. Similar DMI and ADG of lambs fed FM and NaB separately and in combination suggest that their beneficial effect is not additive.