The effect of terpenes on short term and long term intake of sheep

Abstract

Two trials were carried out to test the effect of terpene type and concentration on short term and long term intake in sheep. In trial one, short term intake rate measurements were performed on five wethers with a mean live weight of 41.3 ± 2.5kg. Treatments consisted of whole barley treated with one of five terpenes (α pinene, β pinene, limonene, caryophyllene, and α terpineol) at five concentrations (Omg, 0.001 mg, 0.01 mg, 0.1 mg, and 1.0mg/kg feed). The intake rate of barley was measured during a period of one minute. Each wether was offered sequentially all five terpenes at all concentrations. In trial two long term intake measurements were performed on 12 wethers with a mean live weight of 40.8 ± 1.6kg. Sheep were randomly allocated to 3 treatment groups and one of three terpenes was infused directly into the rumen of four sheep, at a rate of 200mg/day. Measurements of daily intake of lucerne chaff (kg/hd/d) were carried out over a 21 day period. The mean intake rate for whole barley was 136g/min while the mean intake rate per day for lucerne chaff was 1.4 kg/hd/day. The five terpenes tested had no significant effect on either short (P=>0.01) or long term intake.