THE EFFECTS OF MESQUITE BEAN CONSUMPTION ON RUMINAL pH OF CATTLE AND GOATS

Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) beans are a food source high in sugars and carbohydrates found in abundance for short periods of time in Texas. Although nutritious, mesquite beans may induce acidosis or a conditioned food aversion in livestock. Five cows were fed 0, 20 and 40% of their diet in mesquite beans over a period of 28 days. The outcome was rumen pH levels decreased from 0 to 20% and then further decreased at 40%. Rumen pH reached levels near 5, but cows apparently did not experience acidosis. The goat study consisted of 22 yearling nanny goats. Half of the goat’s water was dosed with 2% sodium bicarbonate and they were fed 300, 500 and 700g of mesquite beans each per day in addition to alfalfa pellets; refusals were weighed. Goats that received sodium bicarbonate consumed less mesquite beans indicating that goats did not experience acidosis.