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Abstract: Deposition of relatively less subcutaneous fat by goats than sheep adversely affects storage properties of meat, most importantly dehydration and cold-shortening. High concentrate diets increase internal and carcass fat in goats, including intramuscular fat though levels are less than in cattle or sheep. Levels of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids are greater in goats consuming concentrate in confinement compared with rangeland grazing. Because the botanical composition of the diet selected by goats is more reflective of plant species available compared with cattle and sheep, changes in the botanical and chemical composition with high vs. low stocking rate or as forage mass declines with increasing stocking rate should be smaller compared with cattle and sheep, with greatest differences when browse plant species are available. The magnitude of effect of castration on carcass fatness varies considerably with plane of nutrition, although some gender comparisons have not considered stage of maturity. Limited nutrient intake maximizes lean tissue accretion and minimizes fat deposition regardless of gender. Pre-weaning growth rate is greater for single-kid litters compared with kids of multiple births depending on factors influencing milk production. Concentrate supplementation should increase pre-weaning growth when milk yield is low regardless of litter size but not with moderate-high milk yield when concentrate substitutes for milk. Genetic variability in performance traits is considerable and has been the target of various breed improvement and crossbreeding programs. Breed and genotype differences in carcass traits also exist; however, few improvement programs have included these traits in selection objectives. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In 2006, Langston University (Oklahoma, USA) unveiled an on-line training and certification program for meat goat producers (http://www2.luresext.edu/training/qa.html). The program consists of 22 learning modules, including herd health, biosecurity and internal parasite control. In March 2010, an electronic survey was sent to 160 certified producers to assess impact of the training. Fifty-four surveys were completed for a response rate of 33.7%. Prior to certification, 52.8% of respondents used selective deworming criteria. Current deworming practices and percentage of responses include: FAMACHA, 43; visual condition, 28; pasture rotation-based, 15; and calendar-based, 14 (χ 2 =19.02, P <0.001). When asked if individual animals or all animals in a pasture or pen received anthelmintic when deworming, 76% of respondents said that only animals requiring deworming received anthelmintic (χ 2 =14.52, P <0.001). The dosage of dewormer given was most often calculated based upon table guidelines given in the certification course (54%), vs. 35% who relied on veterinarian instructions and 11% who self-determined dosage amounts (χ 2 =18.22, P <0.001). Over 60% of respondents reported that prior to becoming certified they did not consult a veterinarian for use of drugs extra label. When asked how current withdrawal times for drugs not approved for goats are determined, 41% of responses reported using veterinarian instructions with an identical percentage using table guidelines from the certification course; with 19% of responses using information from the Internet (χ 2 =7.32, P <0.03). Results of the survey show changes in behavior of certified goat producers when compared with previous practices in anthelmintic usage. More emphasis on the importance of veterinarian approval for lawful use of extra-label drug is needed. Changes in production practices noted imply that an on-line training course can be effective in promoting proper herd health practices for goat producers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thirty-four Boer×Spanish wethers (18±0.3 kg initial BW; 5 months of age) were used in a 12-week experiment (2×2+1 factorial arrangement of treatments) to determine effects of ad libitum consumption of broiler litter (B) alone or mixed with corn (60% B; BC) and of ad libitum versus restricted (R) prairie hay intake on feed intake and growth performance. Treatments were: Control: ad libitum intake of hay plus an average of 26 g per day of a mineral-based supplement; AH-B: ad libitum intake of hay and B offered separately; AH-BC: ad libitum intake of hay and BC; RH-B: restricted intake of hay (approximately 1% BW; DM basis) and ad libitum intake of B; RH-BC: restricted intake of hay and ad libitum intake of BC. Average corn DM intake (DMI) was 179 and 170 g per day for AH-BC and RH-BC, respectively, and B DMI was similar among supplement treatments (P>0.05; 258, 271, 299 and 258 g per day for AH-B, AH-BC, RH-B and RH-BC, respectively). Hay DMI averaged 494, 442, 336, 175 and 160 g per day (S.E.=16.7), and total DMI was 516, 700, 782, 474 and 585 g/d (S.E.=26.2) for Control, AH-B, AH-BC, RH-B, and RH-BC, respectively. Overall ADG ranked (P<0.05) AH-BC>AH-B and RH-BC>Control and RH-B (-6, 34, 79, 3 and 50 g), and the ratio of ADG:DMI ranked (P<0.05) AH-BC and RH-BC>AH-B>Control and RH-B (-13, 49, 97, 5 and 85 g/kg) for Control, AH-B, AH-BC, RH-B and RH-BC, respectively. Total tract OM digestibility in period 2 ranked (P<0.05) Control, AH-BC and RH-B (34.0, 46.6, 49.8, 50.0 and 63.7% for Control, AH-B, AH-BC, RH-B and RH-BC, respectively). Ruminal fluid ammonia N concentration was lowest among treatments (P<0.05) at 2 and 6 h after supplementation for Control (e.g., 6 h: 4.0, 19.5, 17.2, 38.2 and 25.8 mg/dl for Control, AH-B, AH-BC, RH-B and RH-BC, respectively; S.E.=2.69). The ratio of acetate:propionate was greatest among treatments (P<0.05) at 0, 2 and 6 h for Control (e.g., 6 h: 5.27, 4.04, 3.28, 3.64 and 3.10 for Control, AH-B, AH-BC, RH-B and RH-BC, respectively; S.E.=0.218). In conclusion, depending on production goals and availability of high-quality feedstuffs such as cereal grains, free-choice consumption of B may be a simple and useful method of supplementing low-quality forage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Forty-five weaned wether goats (12 Alpine, 12 Angora, 10 Boer (87.5%) and 11 Spanish) were used to determine effects on growth performance of consumption of a 75% concentrate diet (DM basis) for 24 weeks (75C) or for 12 weeks subsequent to 12 weeks of feeding a 50% concentrate diet (50C). Initial BW was 20.2, 12.2, 20.7 and 19.2 kg (S.E.=0.73) for Alpine, Angora, Boer and Spanish, respectively, and age was 4 months when the experiment began. There were no interactions between genotype and dietary treatment in DM intake, ADG or gain efficiency in weeks 1–12 or 13–24. DM intake in weeks 1–12 ranked Alpine and Boer>Spanish>Angora (703, 689, 567 and 436 g per day; P<0.05) and in weeks 13–24 was significantly greater for Alpine and Boer versus Angora and Spanish (712, 702, 515 and 456 g per day; P<0.05). DM intake was similar between dietary treatments. In week 8, OM digestibility was 79.3 and 71.3% (S.E.=1.57) and NDF digestibility was 54.2 and 52.1% (S.E.=3.46) for 75C and 50C, respectively. Total VFA concentration was similar between diets; the acetate:propionate ratio was greater (P<0.05) for 50C versus 75C (4.12 versus 2.56). ADG in weeks 1–12 was greatest (P<0.05) for Boer (59, 59, 90 and 49 g per day for Alpine, Angora, Boer and Spanish, respectively); in weeks 13–24 ADG was lowest (P<0.05) for Spanish (25 g per day) and tended to be greater (P<0.10) for Boer versus Alpine (82 versus 58 and 63 g per day). Gain efficiency (ADG:DM intake) was greater (P<0.05) for Angora and Boer than for Alpine and Spanish in weeks 1–12 (132 and 127 versus 85 and 85 g/kg), and in weeks 13–24 was lower (P<0.05) for Spanish than for Angora and Boer (80, 121, 104 and 51 g/kg for Alpine, Angora, Boer and Spanish, respectively). ADG and gain efficiency were greater (P<0.05) for 75 versus 50% dietary concentrate in weeks 1–12 (ADG: 73 and 55 g per day; gain efficiency: 122 and 92 g/kg), and tended to be greater (P<0.11) for 50C than for 75C in weeks 13–24 (ADG: 49 and 65 g per day; gain efficiency: 77 and 101 g/kg for 75C and 50C, respectively). In conclusion, differences in growth performance among Alpine, Angora, Boer and Spanish wether goats were similar with 50 and 75% concentrate diets, and the genotypes responded similarly to the change in dietary concentrate level from 50 to 75%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Eight yearling Spanish wethers (29.6±1.10 kg initial BW) were used in an experiment with a 2×4 factorial arrangement of treatments and two simultaneous 4×4 Latin squares to determine effects on feed intake and digestion of supplementing wheat straw treated (ammoniated) with urea (T) or untreated (U) with soybean meal or broiler litter. Supplements were C (ground corn-based and fed at 0.64% BW, DM), S (C plus 0.25% BW of soybean meal) and LL and HL (C plus 0.5 or 1.0% BW of broiler litter). The N concentration was 0.4 and 2.3% and in vitro digestibility was 48 and 63% in U and T, respectively. There were no significant interactions between straw type and supplement treatment except for NDF digestion and digestible NDF intake. Ruminal fluid ammonia N concentration was greater for T than for U (P<0.05) but was not influenced by supplement treatment (4.1, 7.9, 5.1, 3.8, 11.7, 12.4, 10.8 and 15.6 mg/dl; S.E.=1.53); plasma urea N concentration was greater for T vs. U (P<0.05) and lowest among treatments (P<0.05) for C (7.8, 17.1, 16.5, 18.9, 21.5, 25.1, 28.6 and 26.6 mg/dl for U-C, U-S, U-LL, U-HL, T-C, T-S, T-LL and T-HL, respectively; S.E.=1.71). Straw DM intake was not influenced by supplement treatment and tended to be greater (P<0.13) for U vs. T (212, 261, 274, 277, 406, 404, 432 and 423 g per day for U-C, U-S, U-LL, U-HL, T-C, T-S, T-LL and T-HL, respectively; S.E.=24.6). Total OM intake ranked (P<0.05) C (476, 566, 649 and 739 g per day); apparent total tract OM digestibility was greater (P<0.10) for C and S vs. LL and HL (67.9, 68.3, 61.9 and 60.7% for C, S, LL and HL, respectively); digestible OM intake was lowest among treatments (P<0.05) for C, similar between S and LL and greater for HL than for S (P<0.05) and LL (P<0.13; 249, 331, 342, 386, 380, 423, 450 and 495 g per day for U-C, U-S, U-LL, U-HL, T-C, T-S, T-LL and T-HL, respectively). In summary, apparently with considerable N recycling by yearling Spanish goat wethers, improvements in digestible OM intake by supplementation were achieved through the additional consumption of digestible OM in soybean meal and broiler litter, without substitution for wheat straw intake. Effects of ammoniation and N supplementation on digestible OM intake were additive, with greater magnitude of change via ammoniation than addition of soybean meal or broiler litter to a moderate level of a grain-based supplement. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thirty-two Alpine doelings (15 weeks of age; 12±2.05 kg BW) were used in a completely randomized design 12-week experiment to compare performance with diets based on wheat straw (WS) supplemented with different levels of broiler litter to WS supplemented with a conventional protein source or ammoniated through urea treatment (TWS). Treatments were feeding of a corn-based concentrate at 1.5% of BW (DM basis) with TWS (U) and the U supplement plus approximately 0.4% BW of soybean meal (S) or 0.8 or 1.6% BW of broiler litter (LL and HL, respectively) with WS. Nitrogen concentration was 0.47 and 2.07% DM and in vitro DM digestibility was 47.7 and 67.8% for WS and TWS, respectively; concentrate N concentration was 1.27, 3.16, 2.35 and 2.66% for U, S, LL and HL, respectively. Crude protein intake in week 6 was approximately 11.0, 14.6, 9.4 and 11.7% of total DM intake (DMI) for U, S, LL and HL, respectively. Organic matter digestibility was greater (P<0.05) for S than for the mean of LL and HL (68.9, 78.2, 68.3 and 68.8; SE=3.3), but there was an opposite trend (P<0.10) in digestible OM intake (256, 272, 323 and 339 g/day for U, S, LL and HL, respectively; SE=27.9). Average WS intake in the entire experiment was similar among treatments (223, 167, 207 and 191 g/day) and total DMI was lower for U than for the mean of other diets, lower for S than for the mean of LL and HL and lower for LL vs. HL (P<0.05; 433, 429, 536 and 651 g/day for U, S, LL and HL, respectively). Average daily gain (ADG) did not differ among treatments (61, 70, 63 and 66 g/day), although the ratio of ADG to DMI was lower for the mean of LL and HL compared with S (P<0.05; 145, 170, 122 and 104 g/kg for U, S, LL and HL, respectively). In conclusion, supplementation of WS with a natural protein source such as soybean meal or with broiler litter can support a rate of growth of young Alpine doelings as great as feeding of TWS, although under conditions of this experiment efficiency of feed usage was lower for broiler litter than for soybean meal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Female Alpine goats, 18 approximately 17 months of age (yearling) and 18 approximately 5-month-old (growing), were used in an experiment to determine effects of animal age, urea dose (100, 130, and 160mg/kg BW), and time without feed and water (shrink; 0, 16, and 24h) on urea space (US) estimates. A 20% (w/v) urea solution was infused into a jugular vein, with blood sampled before infusion and every 3min to 21min. BW was 49.8, 47.4, and 47.0kg for yearlings and 26.1, 24.6, and 23.9kg for growing animals after 0, 16, and 24h shrinks, respectively (S.E.=0.80). Time of urea equilibration with body water, determined by a grafted polynomial quadratic–linear model, was affected by a dose×age×shrink interaction (P <0.05); yearling means did not differ (ranging from 7.3 to 10.8min), although those for growing animals were greater (P <0.05) for 0h:130mg (13.0min) and 24h:130mg (13.2min) compared with 24h:100mg (7.6min) and 16h:130mg (7.1min). Based on these times, 12-min samples were used to determine urea space. Urea space was influenced by an age×shrink interaction (P <0.05), being similar among shrink times for yearlings (17.8, 18.8, and 18.9kg) and greater (P <0.05) for growing animals after 0 than 24h shrink (12.9, 11.3, and 10.0kg for 0, 16, and 24h, respectively). Hemoglobin concentration in plasma, as an index of hemolysis, was lower (P <0.05) for growing than for yearling animals (1.16% versus 1.86%), lowest among doses (P <0.05) for 100mg (1.05, 1.74, and 1.75% for 100, 130, and 160mg, respectively), and highest among shrink times (P <0.05) for 24h (1.46, 1.42, and 1.61% for 0, 16, and 24h, respectively). In conclusion, effects of and interactions involving some of the factors studied and high variability in the time of urea equilibration with body water indicate that, regardless of the particular urea space procedures chosen, relatively high numbers of observations are warranted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Yearling Boer×Spanish goat wethers (40) were used to develop and compare body composition prediction equations for mature meat goats based on urea space (US) and body condition score (BCS). Before the experiment, one-half of the animals were managed to have high BW and BCS (1–5, with 1 being extremely thin and 5 very fat) and the others were managed to have low BW and BCS. During the 24-week experiment, initially fat wethers were fed to lose BW and BCS and initially thin wethers were fed to increase BW and BCS. BCS, US, and whole body chemical composition were determined after 0, 12, and 24weeks. Mean, minimum, and maximum values were 42.1 (S.E.=1.12), 24.5, and 59.0kg for shrunk BW; 3.0 (S.E.=0.11), 1.5, and 4.0 for BCS; 61.3 (S.E.=1.01), 53.7, and 76.5% for water; 20.2 (S.E.=1.11), 4.7, and 29.7% for fat; 15.6 (S.E.=0.19), 13.3, and 18.1% for protein; and 2.9 (S.E.=0.062), 2.2, and 3.7% for ash, respectively. For water, fat, and ash concentrations and mass, simplest equations explaining greatest variability (with independent variables of US, BCS, and (or) shrunk BW) based on BCS accounted for more variation than ones based on US, although in some cases differences were not large (i.e., water and ash concentrations and mass). Neither US nor BCS explained variability in protein concentration. Equations to predict protein mass based on shrunk BW and US or BCS were nearly identical in R 2 and the root mean square error. A 1unit change in BCS corresponded to change in full BW of 8.9kg (full BW (kg)=17.902+(8.9087×BCS); R 2 =0.653), fat concentration of 7.54% (%fat=−5.076+(7.5361×BCS); R 2 =0.612), and energy concentration of 3.01MJ/kg (energy (MJ/kg)=0.971+(3.0059×BCS); R 2 =0.615). In summary, BCS may be used as or more effectively to predict body composition of meat goats than US. The primary determinant of BCS, within the range of BCS observed in this experiment, was body fat content. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Yearling Boer×Spanish goat wethers were used to assess effects of initial body condition and subsequent level of feed intake on body composition. Before the experiment, 21 wethers were fed to achieve high body condition score (BCS; 1 to 5, with 1=extremely thin and 5=extremely fat) and BW (initially fat; I-F) and 21 were fed for low BCS and BW (initially thin; I-T). During the experiment, I-F wethers were fed low amounts of a pelletized diet and I-T wethers received high amounts. Harvest measures were determined before the experiment (week 0) and after 12 and 24 weeks, with seven animals per initial body condition and time. BCS in Experiment 1 was 3.8, 3.2, 2.6, 1.9, 2.8, and 3.5 (S.E.=0.11) and live BW was 53.3, 46.2, 42.4, 36.6, 40.1, and 48.2kg (S.E.=2.03) for I-F:week 0, I-F:week 12, I-F:week 24, I-T:week 0, I-T:week 1, and I-T:week 2, respectively. There were substantial declines in mass of many internal organs with advancing time for I-F compared with relatively small change for I-T. Examples include the reticulo-rumen (1.03, 0.59, 0.52, 0.87, 0.78, and 0.73kg; S.E.=0.041), small intestine (0.59, 0.27, 0.23, 0.55, 0.33, and 0.36kg; S.E.=0.021), large intestine (0.40, 0.24, 0.24, 0.33, 0.33, and 0.26kg; S.E.=0.017), and liver (0.86, 0.45, 0.42, 0.56, 0.60, and 0.67kg for I-F:week 0, I-F:week 12, I-F:week 24, I-T:week 0, I-T:week 12, and I-T:week 24, respectively; S.E.=0.031). Conversely, change in internal or non-carcass fat mass was much greater for I-T versus I-F (5.7, 3.9, 2.8, 0.6, 2.5, and 5.1kg for I-F-week 0, I-F-week 12, I-F-week 24, I-T-week 0, I-T-week 12, and I-T-week 24, respectively; S.E.=0.33). Changes in carcass mass of protein (−5.9, −5.3, 7.0, and 5.8g/day; S.E.=0.89) and fat (−1.9, 0.2, 21.4, and 26.6g/day; S.E.=2.35) were greater (P <0.05) for I-T versus I-F, as was also true for non-carcass protein (6.1, 0.0, 14.5, and 6.3g/day; S.E.=0.91) and fat (−16.3, −10.4, 13.6, and 26.3g/day for I-F:weeks 1–12, I-F:weeks 1–24, I-T:weeks 1–12, and I-T:weeks 1–24, respectively; S.E.=2.49). Based on energy concentrations in empty body tissue lost or gained in weeks 1–12 and 1–24 (14.8, 12.1, 19.9, and 26.4MJ/kg for I-F:weeks 1–12, I-F:weeks 1–24, I-T:weeks 1–12, and I-T:weeks 1–24, respectively; S.E.=2.13), the energy concentration in weeks 13–24 was 9.4 and 32.9MJ/kg for I-F and I-T, respectively. In conclusion, the energy concentration in tissue mobilized or accreted by yearling meat goats within certain body condition ranges may not necessarily be the same and appears influenced by initial animal characteristics and subsequent feeding conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Sixty Spanish (S) and 40 Boer×Spanish (BS) doelings (14.9±3.8kg and 21.9±3.8kg initial BW, respectively, and approximately 6 months of age) were used in an experiment with four 3-week periods to determine effects of dietary broiler litter (L) level on growth performance. There were two groups per treatment with six S and four BS doelings in each. Dietary treatments were 20% coarsely ground millet hay and 80% concentrate, which consisted of 0 (0L), 20 (20L), 40 (40L), or 60% L (60L; total dietary level). An additional treatment was 80% hay and 20% concentrate (80F). Concentrate (primarily corn and L when included) DM intake (DMI) was 700, 593, 652, 387, and 165g/d (S.E.=20.3) and total DMI was 883, 755, 825, 490, and 696g/d (S.E.=35.5) for 0L, 20L, 40L, 60L, and 80F, respectively. There was a dietary treatment×period interaction in ADG (period 1: 104, 29, 36, −44, and 47g; period 2: 124, 102, 53, −74, and 12g; period 3: 175, 126, 126, 87, and 80g; period 4: 161, 151, 136, 66, and 51g for 0L, 20L, 40L, 60L, and 80F, respectively (S.E.=12.2)). Treatment and genotype also interacted in ADG (S: 107, 85, 72, 8, and 36g; BS: 174, 118, 103, 10, and 60g for 0L, 20L, 40L, 60L, and 80F, respectively (S.E.=9.2)). ADG:DMI ranked (P <0.06) 0L>20L>40L>80F>60L (152, 130, 102, 18, and 65g/kg for 0L, 20L, 40L, 60L, and 80F, respectively; S.E.=6.12). The acetate:propionate ratio in ruminal fluid was greater (P <0.05) for 60L and 80F than for other treatments (1.60, 1.73, 2.18, 3.80, and 3.67 for 0L, 20L, 40L, 60L, and 80F, respectively; S.E.=0.27). Liver Cu concentration at the end of the experiment was influenced by dietary treatment (88, 275, 478, 286, and 47ppm for 0L, 20L, 40L, 60L, and 80F, respectively; S.E.=53.2). In conclusion, L can be effectively used in diets for growing meat goats, but high levels, such as above 40% of dietary DM, may restrict performance primarily via limited feed intake. However, the level of L below this threshold impacts efficiency of feed utilization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A study was conducted to determine effects of grazing of mixed grass/forb pastures at three stocking rates (SR) on subsequent performance of goats and sheep fed a concentrate-based diet. Experimental periods, in 2002 and 2003, were 15 weeks in length, following 16 weeks of grazing (May to September) of pastures with warm season grasses and various forbs. Sheep (Katahdin) and goat (≥75% Boer blood) wethers were 4–5 months of age when grazing began. Stocking rates were four (SR4), six (SR6), and eight (SR8) animals per 0.4ha pasture, with equal numbers of sheep and goats and three pastures per SR. Two sheep and two goats from each pasture were used in the subsequent confinement period, with initial BW of 25±0.6 and 23±0.5kg, respectively. Average daily gain by all animals during grazing tended to decrease linearly (P <0.10) with increasing SR (61, 51, and 47g/day for SR4, SR6, and SR8, respectively). In the period after grazing, DM intake tended (P <0.10) to be affected by an interaction between SR and year (year 1: 958, 966, and 1011g/day; year 2: 1109, 904, and 930g/day for SR4, SR6, and SR8, respectively (S.E.=56.8)). There was a tendency (P <0.07) for an interaction between SR and year in overall ADG (year 1: 172, 160, and 177g; year 2: 193, 135, and 141g for SR4, SR6, and SR8, respectively (S.E.=12.6)). Sheep had higher overall ADG than goats (193 versus 133g; S.E.=7.9). Gain efficiency (ADG:DMI) was not influenced by SR (P >0.10). Energy expenditure (EE) measured in weeks 3 and 9 via heart rate increased linearly (P <0.05) with increasing SR (562, 589, and 628kJ/kg BW0.75 for SR4, SR6, and SR8, respectively; S.E.=16.4). In conclusion, SR had no impact on ADG of sheep and goat wethers consuming a concentrate-based diet subsequent to the grazing period, which may involve effect of prior SR on subsequent EE. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Thirty-six growing Boer×Spanish wethers (initial BW of 30±0.7kg) were used in an 82-day experiment to determine effects of the number of animals per automated feeding system (NPF; 6, 8, 10 and 12), allowing consumption by only one animal at a given time, on intake of a 50% concentrate pelletized diet (9.2MJ/kg ME, DM basis), feeding behavior and growth performance. During the entire experiment DM intake (1454, 1513, 1596 and 1374g/day) and BW gain (156, 167, 181 and 136g/day for 6, 8, 10 and 12 NPF, respectively) were affected by NPF quadratically (P <0.05), although gain efficiency (ADG:DM intake) was similar among NPF. The number of feeder visits (17.5, 17.1, 17.9 and 18.7) and meals (8.9, 9.0, 9.3 and 8.9) were similar among NPF, although feeder occupancy per day (97.8, 73.2, 83.0 and 71.7min), visit (5.8, 4.4, 5.0 and 3.8min) and meal (11.2, 8.2, 9.2 and 8.1min for 6, 8, 10 and 12 NPF, respectively) decreased linearly with increasing NPF (P <0.05). The rate of DM consumption relative to feeder occupancy time plateaued as NPF increased to 8 (linear and quadratic changes, P <0.05; 14.6, 24.9, 21.5 and 23.1g/min for 6, 8, 10 and 12 NPF, respectively). In conclusion, with these diet and animal characteristics, 8 or 10 wethers per automated feeder appear appropriate for achieving unrestricted growth performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Eight nonlactating Alpine does (2.5–6.5 year of age; 46±2.9kg BW) were used to determine effects of standing versus walking at different speeds and interactions between walking speed and forage ingestion on energy expenditure (EE), heart rate (HR), and their ratio. Coarsely ground alfalfa hay was fed at a maintenance level of intake, and measures were performed in a head-box respiration calorimetry system. In experiment 1, measures occurred at least 3h after feeding for 20min after the plateau in EE sequentially, while standing (0m/s) on a treadmill and thereafter walking at 0.14, 0.28, and 0.42m/s at a +5% slope. HR and EE ranked (P <0.05) 0<0.14<0.28<0.42m/s (HR: 79, 95, 108, and 125beats/min; EE: 20.6, 25.8, 29.6, and 34.1kJ/(kg BW0.75 ×h)). The ratio of EE:HR was lowest among treatments (P <0.05) for 0m/s (6.26, 6.54, 6.58, and 6.56 (kJ/(kg BW0.75 ×day)/(beats/min) for 0, 0.14, 0.28, and 0.42m/s, respectively). In experiment 2, EE and HR were first determined while standing, followed by measures when walking at 0.07, 0.14, or 0.21m/s at a +5% slope; measurements also occurred while consuming 50% of the daily allocation of forage when standing or walking at the different speeds immediately after measures without forage ingestion. Differences between values for forage consumption plus walking or standing and walking or standing without forage were calculated to determine the origin of, or factor responsible for, change in EE (i.e., walking (W) versus forage consumption (F)), with the previous standing estimate without forage used as a covariate. There was an interaction (P <0.05) between walking speed and origin of EE. EE due to W ranked (P <0.05) 0<0.07<0.14, and 0.21m/s (−0.3, 3.4, 4.8, and 5.9kJ/(kg BW0.75 ×h)). Conversely, EE attributable to F was lower (P <0.05) for 0 than for 0.07 and 0.21m/s (9.0, 10.7, 10.3, and 10.7kJ/(kg BW0.75 ×h) for 0, 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21m/s, respectively). Differences in HR were generally similar in magnitude to those in EE (−1, 9, 17, and 20beats/min for W, and 35, 51, 40, and 42beats/min for F, at 0, 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21m/s, respectively (S.E.=2.1)). In summary, these results suggest potential use of HR to predict EE while grazing. Forage consumption increased EE to a greater extent than walking and may lessen effects of walking and walking speed on the grazing activity energy cost. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Twenty-four Boer crossbred yearling wethers (23.5±2.31 kg initial BW) were used to determine effects of stepwise increases in dietary level of Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) foliage (CF), compared with a constant relatively high level and subsequent availability of low-quality forage, on present and later consumption of CF. Animals were penned individually in Phases 1 (8 week) and 3 (2 week), and during Phase 2 (6 week) wethers were kept in a pasture not containing cedar trees and were fed wheat hay. In Phase 1 a concentrate-based diet (CBD, 12.6% CP and 35.5% NDF) was offered at approximately 85% of the maintenance energy requirement alone (Control) or with weekly stepwise (Step) increases in level of substitution of CF for CBD (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% in week 1–8, respectively; DM basis) or substitution of 25% CF in week 2–8 (Set). In Phase 3 (2 week), all wethers were offered the diet of 75% CBD and 25% CF as previously, without or with separate free-choice access to low-quality grass hay. CF was harvested weekly, refrigerated and hand-mixed with CBD prior to feeding. In Phase 1, intake of CF as a percentage of that offered was greater (P<0.05) for Step versus Set in week 2–8 (week 2: 84 and 68; week 3: 86 and 48; week 4: 89 and 56; week 5: 90 and 71; week 6: 96 and 81; week 7: 93 and 63; week 8: 96 and 84), although CF intake as g per day was greater (P<0.05) for Set versus Step in all but week 7 and 8. In Phase 3, CBD intake was similar among treatments, and hay intake when offered averaged 149, 134 and 124 g per day for Step, Set and Control, respectively. For wethers not receiving hay, CF intake as g per day for Step was greatest among treatments (P<0.05) but was not different from treatments with offered hay (67, 37, 30, 55, 53 and 56 g per day for Step, Set and Control without and with hay, respectively; S.E.=7.1). Similarly, CF intake as a percentage of that offered ranked (P<0.05) Step>Set>Control without hay, but was not different between Step without hay and treatments with hay (78, 41, 34, 61, 57 and 60% for Step, Set and Control without and with hay, respectively; S.E.=7.6). Concentrations of various blood constituents at the end of Phases 1 and 3 did not indicate adverse health effects of CF consumption. In conclusion, gradual increases in dietary level of CF deserve further research as a potential means to elevate present and future CF consumption, with attention also directed to effects of type and level of other feedstuffs offered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thirty six meat goat wethers (3/4 Spanish and 1/4 Boer), born in the previous Spring (initial age and BW of 8.5 months and 17±0.6 kg) or Fall (initial age of 2.5 months and 13±0.8 kg), were used to determine effects of ad libitum consumption of different quality diets and age on early subsequent growth while grazing wheat forage. The experiment was 14 weeks long, with 9 weeks in the winter consuming prairie hay (5% CP and 71% NDF) supplemented with 0.125% BW of soybean meal (PH), alfalfa pellets (AP) or a 70% concentrate diet (CD), and 5 weeks in the spring grazing wheat forage. ADG in Period 1 (28, 54 and 81 g per day; S.E.=14.0) and Period 2 (123, 137 and 100 g per day for PH, AP and CD, respectively; S.E.=13.8) was similar among dietary treatments and greater for Spring vs. Fall wethers (Period 1: 72 vs. 37 g per day, P<0.05; Period 2: 131 vs. 108 g per day, P<0.09). There was not a discernible pattern of change in ADG as week of grazing wheat forage advanced (week 1: 65 and 22 g per day; week 2: 236 and 188 g per day; week 3: 65 and 105 g per day; week 4: 49 and 23 g per day; week 5: 249 and 215 g per day for Spring and Fall, respectively). Body composition (estimated from shrunk BW and urea space) on days 42 and 98 and composition of gain were similar among dietary treatments. Differences between ages (P<0.05) in protein mass on day 42 (2.92 and 2.65 kg for Spring and Fall, respectively) and 98 (3.72 and 3.36 kg for Spring and Fall, respectively) were similar in magnitude, although that in fat mass on day 98 (4.60 and 3.31 kg) was considerably greater than on day 42 (2.39 and 1.96 kg for Spring and Fall, respectively). In accordance, protein accretion from day 42 to 98 was similar between ages (14.3 and 12.6 g per day for Spring and Fall, respectively; S.E.=0.86), whereas rate of fat accretion was greater (P<0.05) for Spring vs. Fall wethers (39.6 vs. 24.1 g per day). In conclusion, the nature of the diet consumed ad libitum did not impact subsequent growth by 3/4 Spanish wethers, regardless of age, when grazing wheat forage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Spanish wether and doeling kids (4.5 months of age; 13.4 kg initial BW) were used to determine influences of different quality diets consumed continuously or after a lower quality diet on characteristics of growth. The experiment consisted of two 9-week periods. Diets were low quality forage (L, prairie hay supplemented with soybean meal), high quality forage (H, dehydrated alfalfa pellets) and 70% concentrate (C). Kids on two treatments consumed L in Period 1, with half switched to C and half to H in Period 2 (LC and LH, respectively). The CC treatment entailed C consumption in both periods, and HH kids were fed H in both periods. For HC, H was fed in Period 1 followed by C in Period 2. DM intake ranked (P<0.05) LC and LH and HH in Period 1 (502, 352, 386, 610 and 636 g per day) and CC and LC, HC and HH in Period 2 (652, 621, 833, 808 and 836 g per day for CC, LC, LH, HC and HH, respectively). ADG was lowest among treatments (P<0.05) for LC and LH in Period 1 (78, 1, −1, 84 and 80 g per day) and was 53, 82, 112, 92 and 73 g per day in Period 2 for CC, LC, LH, HC and HH, respectively (S.E. = 11). Empty body fat concentration at the end of Period 1 was greatest for the C diet and lowest for L (P<0.05; 12.2, 6.4 and 9.0% for C, L and H, respectively), and protein concentration was greatest among treatments (P<0.05) for L (16.8, 20.1 and 18.1% for C, L and H, respectively). At the end of Period 2, empty body fat concentration was 22.0, 15.9, 14.4, 20.1 and 15.2% (S.E.=1.94), and protein concentration was 16.8, 16.9, 17.9, 16.5 and 17.6% (S.E.=0.35) for CC, LC, LH, HC and HH, respectively). In summary, kids on the L diet in Period 1 mobilized fat to accrete a small amount of protein. Continuous consumption of C resulted in high fat accretion relative to H in both periods. Consumption of H in Period 1 followed by C in Period 2 resulted in growth characteristics slightly different from those with continual intake of C, with a lower concentration of protein in accreted tissue for HC. The diet in Period 2 for kids previously consuming L did not markedly affect tissue accretion. In conclusion, the nature of the diet consumed by young Spanish goats can impact current and subsequent rate and composition of BW gain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]