EFFECTS OF BREED AND DIETARY EXPERIENCE ON JUNIPER CONSUMPTION BY GOATS

Low nutritional quality and high levels of essential oils result in lo w consumption of juniper by goats. In this study we examined: (1) if j uniper consumption could be increased by exposing goats to essential o ils early in life; (2) if goat breeds (Spanish vs Angora) differed in juniper consumption; (3) if differences in juniper consumption were re lated to detoxification abilities of goats; and, (4) if differences in digestibility and nitrogen or energy balance could explain juniper co nsumption patterns. In the first experiment, Spanish and Angora goats 6-7 weeks old, were bolused every other day for 1 month with essential oils distilled from redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii Sudw.), whi le control animals received empty capsules. Goats were then offered re dberry juniper branches in a 5-day acceptance trial. Spanish goats con sumed more (p < 0.01) juniper during the trial than Angoras. Goats pre viously dosed with essential oils ingested marginally less (p < 0.086) juniper than controls. Liver-specific enzymes in blood serum (asparta te aminotransferase and gamma glutamyltransferase) were compared befor e and after acceptance testing to examine potential liver damage. Span ish goats apparently experienced less tissue damage in response to jun iper consumption than Angora goats. A second experiment examined the d igestion and metabolism of juniper. Spanish goats consumed more (p < 0 .01) juniper than Angora goats though Angoras digested juniper more co mpletely; probably a result of their lower consumption. The metabolic fate of dietary nitrogen and energy was similar for both breeds and un affected by exposure to essential oils early in life.