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Description:
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The objectives of this study were to determine if maternal influences increased
redberry juniper (Junipers pinchottii Sudw . ) consumption by goats . Twenty -one Boer
nannies were bred to determine the effects of maternal influences from different stages
of exposure . Experiment 1 , examined the exposure in the uterus in the third trimester ,
Experiment 2 examined the effect of exposure through lactation . Experiment 3 ,
examined the mothers influence as a social role model and the last treatment group was
the control . At weaning , all kids were fed juniper in individual pens at the Angelo State
University Management Instruction and Research Center , San Angelo , TX . Kids were
fed juniper 30 min each day for 24 days and refusals were weighed back daily to monitor
intake . Following the juniper feeding , kids were fed a basal diet of alfalfa pellets (2 .5 %
BW ) to meet body maintenance requirements . All kids increased intake over the 24 days
of exposure . Kids that foraged with mom on juniper -dominated rangelands initially ate
more juniper . |