February, 2010 Behavioral Education for Human, Animal, Vegetation

Volume 5, Issue 1 & Ecosystem Management Oh BEHAVE!

BEHAVE Outreach Program • 435-797-3576

The Newsletter for the BEHAVE Research and Nature Versus Nurture Outreach Program Mamber and Damascus goats evolved in the same areas of the BEHAVE Principle Middle East, yet Mamber goats show of the Month: a lower preference for tannin-rich browse than Damascus goats. It’s Nature vs. nurture – unknown whether these preferences When it comes to diet are due to physiological differences selection, which is more between the breeds or experiences important nature or early in life. nurture? Often it’s an impossible question In a cross fostering experiment, because many dietary Perevolotsky, Ungar and Dvash record bites groups of Mamber and Damascus by Damascus kids during a feeding trial. preferences are likely kids were reared either by their shaped by interactions biological mothers or by foster test, experienced kids had a higher between genes and mothers of the other breed. A third preference for tannin-rich browse experience. The field of than naïve kids. Preference for epigenetics focuses on group of kids was reared on milk tannin-rich browse by orphaned kids how environment affects replacer with no adult role models. At (61%) or kids reared by Damascus gene expression further weaning, kids and their mothers were blurring the nature- exposed to tannin-rich (Pistacia does (55%) were higher than kids nurture debate. What lentiscus) and tannin-poor (Phillyrea reared by Mamber does (41%). Kids does this mean for latifolia) browse. learned to consume tannin-rich producers? Keep browse readily even without an adult replacement females During intake trials, kids from all role model. Kid breed did not affect from dams that have groups ate both tannin-rich and -poor preference for tannin-rich or poor traits and behaviors you browse readily. In the preference forage. want in your herd. If your animals won’t eat a In this study, learning was more specific plant then try important than breed in determining training them to eat it, goat kid preference for tannin-rich provided it’s safe to eat. browse. Which is more important nature or nurture? From Glasser, T.A., E.D. Ungar, S.Y. Landau, a practical stance, does A. Perevolotsky, H. Muklada, J.W. it matter? Walker 2009. Breed and maternal effects on the intake of tannin-rich browse by juvenile domestic goats (Capra hircus). Damascus goats browse lentisk (Pistacia Appl. Anim. Beh. Sci. 119:71-77. lentiscus) which contains 20% tannin

BEHAVE Outreach Program

Impact of Pasture Variety on Cattle

Performance and Behavior Your Source for All Things Over the past year, we have highlighted research projects at USU BEHAVE that focus on the effect of pasture variety on diet selection, forage sequence, digestibility and intake. Though there may be many benefits The BEHAVE Program to pasture variety, performance is Wildland Resources key for many livestock producers. 5230 Old Main Hill Utah State University Several studies report livestock eat Logan, UT 84322-5230 more, and have better feed efficiency Cattle grazing at USU’s Research when grazing a variety of forages Farm near Lewiston, UT Phone: than livestock grazing a pasture with Beth Burritt a single forage specie. This spring mixture of grass and legume. Brody will BEHAVE Outreach graduate student, Brody Maughan, record where cattle graze to calculate Program Director plans to study how cattle behavior 435-797-3576 the proportion of grazing time and and performance is affected when sequence of use of each plant species cattle graze two grass-legume in the alfalfa-fescue mix and the E-Mail: mixtures. During his study, fall-born sainfoin-fescue mix. [email protected] calves will be finished on mixtures of

tall fescue, which contains alkaloids, In September, steers will be with either sainfoin, which contains slaughtered and carcasses evaluated tannins, or alfalfa, which contains for grade, quality and flavor. An We’re on the Web! saponins. economic assessment of the

See us at: production cost per unit of retail beef The study will run May through will also be conducted. September. Cattle will be weighed at www.behave.net regular intervals. They will strip-graze This research will enable us to better pastures with electric fences moved understand how livestock behave and daily to allow access to fresh forage. perform on simple pasture mixtures Each day, cattle will have free access with forages containing different to strips of grass, legume and a secondary compounds.

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