Date of Award: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Frederick D. Provenza
The influence of primary compounds (energy, protein, minerals,
and vitamins) in animal nutrition and foraging behavior has been
studied for years. The roles of secondary compounds (terpenes,
alkaloids, and phenolic compounds) are equally important, yet
they have been ignored until recently. Where secondary compounds
were once considered toxic by-products of plant metabolism, we
now know they are actively involved in plant and animal
behavior, health, and productivity. Though often appreciated
historically for their negative impacts on food intake and
animal production, we are becoming increasingly aware of their
beneficial roles in the health of plants, animals, and humans.
When animals can ingest an array of plants that contain
different kinds and amounts of secondary compounds, they can mix
different foods in their diet to better use both primary and
secondary compounds, enhancing their health and production, as
well as economic and ecological