title: Effect of adaptation strategies when feeding fresh cassava foliage on intake and physiological responses of lambs.
abstract: The objective of the experiment was to study different adaptation strategies to avoid HCN intoxication when feeding fresh cassava foliage to sheep. Twenty-four Phan Rang lambs (initial weight = 19.6 kg at 5.5 months of age) were used in the study. The four experimental diets contained guinea grass (Panicum maximum) supplemented with concentrate at 1.5% of body weight (BW) as dry matter (DM) (control) or supplemented with fresh cassava foliage (FCF) that was introduced into the diet with an adaptation period of 0 (FCF-0), 7 (FCF-7) or 21 (FCF-21) days before reaching the target feeding level of 2% of BW. The average intake of FCF expressed as DM was not different amongst the supplemented treatments and ranged from 1.4 to 1.5% of BW but gradually increased during the first 7 days without any adaptation. The hydrogen cyanide consumed varied from 5.1 to 5.4 mg/kg BW and no difference between treatments with cassava foliage in the diet was found. The live weight gain was significantly higher in the treatments control and FCF-7 compared to FCF-21. No significant differences in heart rate, respiration rate and rumen movement were found between diets. The thiocyanate concentration in the urine of the lambs increased concomitantly with the increase in fresh cassava foliage offered during the first part of the experiment. In conclusion, an adaptation period of approximately 7 days seems to be favourable in combined diets where cassava foliage is offered in quantities up to 2% of BW. This level of intake could enhance the intake and LWG of the lambs without any documented effects on heart rate, respiration rate or rumen movements.
authors.affiliation: Goat and Rabbit Research Center, Sontay, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Khuc Thi
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Hue
authors.forename: Do Thi Thanh
authors.initials: do TT
authors.lastname: Van
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spörndly
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ledin
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wredle
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D002365:Manihot; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011897:Random Allocation; D056152:Respiratory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*
references.citation: Phytochemistry. 1998 Jan;47(2):155-62
references.pmid: 9431670
references.citation: Phytochemistry. 2004 Feb;65(3):293-306
references.pmid: 14751300
references.citation: J Dairy Sci. 1991 Oct;74(10):3583-97
references.pmid: 1660498
references.citation: Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2001 Mar;128(3):463-70
references.pmid: 11246038
references.citation: Arch Toxicol. 2003 Jun;77(6):330-4
references.pmid: 12799772
references.citation: J Chem Ecol. 1990 Feb;16(2):573-83
references.pmid: 24263512
references.citation: Vet Hum Toxicol. 2004 Aug;46(4):186-7
references.pmid: 15303388
references.citation: J Anim Sci. 1970 Aug;31(2):373-82
references.pmid: 5433455
references.citation: Talanta. 1999 Apr;48(4):923-31
references.pmid: 18967535
references.citation: Physiol Behav. 1994 Mar;55(3):429-32
references.pmid: 8190757
references.citation: EMBO Rep. 2002 Aug;3(8):741-6
references.pmid: 12151332
references.citation: Vet Res Commun. 2001 Jul;25(5):379-89
references.pmid: 11469509
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2010 Jan;42(1):1-11
references.pmid: 19521793
references.citation: Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2010 Jul;62(4):361-6
references.pmid: 19559583
references.citation: Naturwissenschaften. 1979 Jan;66(1):28-34
references.pmid: 423994