Studies on the carbohydrate metabolism of sheep. XVII. Feed requirements and voluntary feed intake in late pregnancy, with particular reference to prevention of hypoglycaemia and hyperketonaemia.

1962 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL Reid ◽  
NT Hinks
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
General Criterion ◽  
Voluntary Feed Intake ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Pregnant Ewe ◽  
Nutritional Studies ◽  
Maintenance Requirements

The increase in nutrient requirements of ewes with advancing pregnancy has been measured in terms of the additional feed necessary to prevent hyperketonaemia, with particular reference to the difference between ewes carrying single and those carrying twin lambs. The additional feed required during late pregnancy to prevent the ewe drawing appreciably on body reserves depended on the total foetal weight. In twin-bearing ewes the increase in the last 2 weeks of pregnancy was as high as 80% of the ewe's own maintenance requirements; the total requirement usually exceeded the voluntary feed intake during this period. It is concluded that the efficiency of utilization of the metabolizable energy of the additional feed is low, and that the additional feed requirement depends on the bodily condition of the ewe. In contrast to ewes in medium body condition, the voluntary feed intake of fat, twin-bearing ewes declined markedly in late pregnancy. This decline was not simply a consequence of reduction in abdominal space due to the large volume occupied by twin foetuses or by abdominal fat. The fat pregnant ewe, when undernourished as a result of a marked decline in voluntary feed intake, was better able to maintain blood glucose, and hence blood ketone levels, in the normal range than the ewe in medium body condition, but there was evidence that birth weights and viability of twins were low. In consequence, the usefulness of ketone level as a general criterion of undernutrition during pregnancy is restricted, but it is suggested that the technique used has special applications in nutritional studies on pregnant ewes.

The effect of feed intake during late pregnancy on the performance of sows when fed a common high level during lactation

1988 ◽  
Vol 1988 ◽  
pp. 124-124
Author(s):  
A J Harker ◽  
D J A Cole
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Present Experiment ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Voluntary Feed Intake ◽  
High Feed ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
High Level ◽  
Different Levels

It is established that backfat depth and body condition during late pregnancy and lactation can be manipulated through changes in feed intake (Harker and Cole, 1984). Other work has shown that high level feeding throughout pregnancy is associated with a reduction in voluntary feed intake (e.g. Salmon-Legagneur and Rerat, 1962; Harker and Cole, 1985). However, it remains unclear whether high level feeding during late pregnancy alone has any effect on subseguent voluntary feed intake or changes in liveweight and backfat depth during lactation.The present experiment was designed to compare the performance and body condition changes of sows fed different levels in late pregnancy followed by a common and relatively high feed level during lactation.

Responses of Matebele goats of Zimbabwe to feeding level: late pregnancy

1992 ◽  
Vol 1992 ◽  
pp. 95-95
Author(s):  
L Majele Slbanda ◽  
M.J. Bryant ◽  
L.R. Ndlovu
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Breeding Station ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Supplementary Feed ◽  
Mineral Lick

Under conventional husbandry conditions, Matabele goats kid all year round and, as they receive no supplementary feed, they are frequently exposed to periods of feed scarcity. The aim of this experiment was to determine maternal and foetal responses to different feeding levels during pregnancy.The work was carried out at the Thuli Breeding Station, in Matebeleland, south western Zimbabwe. Forty-two Matebele goats carrying single kids were individually penned and randomly allocated to each of three treatments as they reached week 14 of gestation. The treatments were; Low (L)=0.25 MJ ME / kg0.75, Medium (M)=1.5xL and High (H)=2.5xL. Whole maize grain, lucerne hay and veld hay (see Table 1) were offered at levels calculated to provide 0.2, 0.24 and 0.56 of the total ME. Drinking water and an iodized mineral lick were available to all goats ad libitum. Feed intake was measured daily. Does were weighed and body condition scored (on a scale of 1-10) weekly and within 8 hours of parturition. Kids were weighed at or soon after birth.

The partition of nutrients in ewes maintained in a moderate compared with a lean body condition in late pregnancy

1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 743 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. McNeill ◽  
R. W. Kelly ◽  
I. H. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Placental Weight ◽  
Fetal Weight ◽  
Fetal Size ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Free Body

The effect of ewe fatness on fetal weight at term was tested without the confounding effects of placental weight and feed intake. We hypothesised that fetal weights should be similar in fat or lean ewes with placentas of a similar size, and tested the hypothesis by manipulating nutrition so that, at mating, Merino ewes carrying a single fetus were in a medium (score 2·9, liveweight 46·6 kg) or lean (score 2·0, liveweight 40·6 kg) condition. They were maintained at this fatness difference until slaughter at Day 146 of pregnancy when fetal, placental, and maternal tissues were weighed and analysed for composition. Subgroups (n = 8 per fatness group) slaughtered at Day 110, a stage when most placental hypertrophy is complete but the majority of fetal hypertrophy is yet to occur, confirmed that the treatments differed in ewe fatness (3·82 v. 9·19 kg empty-body fat, s.e.m. = 0·960; P < 0·001) but not placental weight (487 v. 538 g, s.e.m. = 41·5, P > 0·05). By Day 146, fatness differences (4·77 v. 9·56 kg empty-body fat, s.e.m. = 0·960, P < 0·001) and placental similarities (434 v. 502 g, s.e.m. = 38·3, P > 0·05) were maintained, and both groups produced fetuses of similar size (4408 v. 4382 g, s.e.m. = 204·6, P > 0·05). However, the fetuses in the lean ewes had 20% less fat/kg fat-free body weight (24 v. 30 g/kg, s.e.m. = 1·3, P < 0·01). Fetal weight was correlated with placental weight (r = 0·70; P < 0·01) but not with ewe fatness. Fetal fatness, however, was correlated with ewe fatness (r = 0·69; P < 0·01). Ewe fatness per se did not influence fetal size but did influence the deposition of fat in the fetus, possibly via a greater ability of fatter ewes to partition more glucose toward their fetus.

Maternal fatness influences fetal size in ewes underfed in late pregnancy

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 1171 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. McNeill ◽  
R. W. Kelly ◽  
I. H. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Fetal Size ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Energy Maintenance ◽  
Water Dilution

The effect of ewe fatness on fetal weight at term in ewes underfed in late pregnancy was tested by minimising the confounding effect of differences between fatness groups in placental weight. Twin-bearing Merino ewes in a fat (n = 9, condition score 3.8 units) or moderate (n =9, condition score 2.9) body condition were underfed to 0.6 of their requirements for energy maintenance from Day 108 to 144 of pregnancy. The fatness groups were developed over an 80-day period prior to mating by splitting a flock into 2 groups, each of similar mean liveweight and body condition score, and then enhancing the nutrient intake of one whilst restricting that of the other to maintenance levels until mating. After mating, both groups were fed similarly until Day 108 of pregnancy in an attempt to allow the development of placentas of a similar size in each. Maternal fat and protein mobilised between Day 108 and 144 of pregnancy were calculated on a per animal basis as the difference between maternal fat and protein weights at Day 108, estimated by the tritiated water dilution technique, and at Day 144, estimated by chemical analysis of fat and protein tissue following slaughter. At slaughter, the fat ewes had placentas of a size similar to those of the leaner ewes (588 v. 507 g, pooled s.e. = 50.7, P > 0.10) but produced a total weight of fetus that was 14% heavier (6646 v. 5826 g, pooled s.e. = 257.6, P < 0.05). The fat ewes also mobilised more body fat between Day 108 and 144 (3.62 v. 2.58 kg, pooled s.e. = 0.446, P < 0.10), and maintained higher levels of non-esterified fatty acids in their plasma during late pregnancy. There was no effect of ewe fatness on the extent of protein mobilisation (0.66 v. 0.62 kg, pooled s.e. = 0.623, P > 0.10) over late pregnancy. We conclude that additional maternal fat reserves can limit the extent to which fetal growth is restricted in ewes undernourished during late pregnancy.

Stimulation of wool growth by thyroxine implantation. II. Feed intake of grazing Merino wethers treated repeatedly with thyroxine.

1964 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 676 ◽  
Author(s):  
LJ Lambourne
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Maintenance Requirements ◽  
Substantial Rise ◽  
Stimulation Of

Estimates have been made of the feed intake of wethers that received implantations of 60 mg thyroxine every 3 months, and of untreated sheep, grazing together. The estimated intake of digestible organic matter (D.O.M.) by treated wethers was higher than that of controls in 24 out of 27 measurement periods. The difference in feed intake was least in the iirst month after implantation, when the treated sheep lost weight, and greatest in the second and third months when the treated sheep were regaining weight. The overall increase in intake resulting from thyroxine treatment (20–25%) was greater than the increase in wool production (7% greasy weight, 3-7 % clean weight), and the efficiency of wool production was therefore lower in thyroxinetreated wethers. From the relationships between feed intake and rate of weight change it was concluded that in the month after implantation, when pulse rates indicated a substantial rise in metabolic rate, the maintenance feed requirement was raised from about 560 g to about 780 g D.O.M. per day. Observations in two winters with recently shorn sheep gave estimates of maintenance requirements for untreated wethers ranging from 850 to 1300 g D.O.M. per day. During recovery from repeated thyroxine implantation the wethers gained in weight no more efficiently than the controls. The mechanism of action of exogenous thyroxine is discussed in the light of these and other data.

Influence of mixing on the initiation of piglet feeding and post weaning growth performance

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 122-122
Author(s):  
F H Reynolds ◽  
J M Forbes ◽  
H M Miller
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
First Feeding ◽  
Voluntary Feed Intake ◽  
Mixed Litter ◽  
The Difference ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Sibling Groups

Weaning is a stressful period for the piglet, invariably typified by low voluntary feed intake and reduced performance. Moreover, if siblings are separated and mixed with other litters, stress increases and the learned stimulus of the group to feed is disturbed (Brooks et al., 2003). This experiment was part of a larger investigation into the voluntary feed intake of the piglet in the immediate post weaning period. We investigated the difference between mixed litter origin or sibling groups on latency to initiate feeding and performance to day six post weaning. We hypothesised that mixing litters would increase latency to first feeding and reduce growth rate in the first few days after weaning.

The effect of nutrition during early life on voluntary food intake by lambs between weaning and 2 years of age

1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 697-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Sibbald ◽  
G. C. Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Fat Depots ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Grazed Swards ◽  
Body Condition Scores

AbstractTwo experiments were carried out with Scottish Blackface lambs to investigate the effects of restricted nutrition during pregnancy and lactation on voluntary food intakes (VFI) between weaning and 2 years of age. Ewes were given diets providing 0·7 (LP) or 10 (HP) of their estimated metabolizable energy requirements during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy and subsequently grazed swards with mean sward surface heights of approximately 3 cm (LL) or 6 cm (HL) during lactation. All lambs were weaned at 17 weeks of age. In experiment 1, four treatment combinations (LP-LL, LP-HL, HP-LL and HP-HL) were applied and female lambs were studied. In experiment 2, two treatment combinations (LP-LL and HP-HL) were applied and male lambs were studied. In both experiments the lambs received a common level of nutrition between weaning and 2 years of age.In both experiments, mean live weights were proportionately 0·2 higher for HP-HL than for LP-LL lambs at weaning (P < 0·001) and in experiment 2 mean live weights and body condition scores were still higher in HP-HL than in LP-LL lambs at 2 years of age (P < 0·05). Abomasum weights were higher in HP than in LP lambs at birth and higher in HP-HL than in LP-LL lambs at weaning in experiment 1 and the weights of the rumen and dimensions of the rumen villi were greater in HP-HL than in LP-LL lambs at weaning in both experiments (P < 0·05). The treatments had no effect on lipid content or mean adipocyte diameter in the main fat depots at birth or weaning. There were no treatment effects on VFI in either experiment. It was concluded that restricted nutrition during late pregnancy and early lactation does not affect VFI between weaning and 2 years of age in sheep, even though there are differences in live weight and the development of the gastrointestinal tract at weaning and there may be long-term effects on live weight and body condition, particularly in male animals.

Effect of feeding level in late pregnancy and early lactation and fibre level in mid lactation on body mass, milk production and quality in Awassi ewes

1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 231-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Goodchild ◽  
A. I. El-Awad ◽  
O. Gürsoy
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Period Change ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Body Reserves

AbstractIn west Asia, it is traditional for sheep to gain body condition when low-cost native pastures are available and to mobilize reserves thus built up at other times. With diminishing shares of native pasture, crop by-products and food grains are increasing in sheep diets, and facilitate feeding for constant body condition.In a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment, 48 Awassi ewes were individually fed indoors, nursed single lambs for 42 days, and were hand-milked from day 29 after lambing. Dietary treatments were imposed at different times: level of feeding (i) in the last 24 days of pregnancy (Lconstv. Lmob), (ii) in days 18 to 60 after lambing (Lconstv. Lmob), and (iii) level of fibre in days 60 to 102 after lambing (Fhighv. Flow). RationsPconst, Lconst, Flowand Fhighwere calculated to maintain body condition. Fhighprovided the calculated maximum ingestible quantity of barley straw and Flowprovided 0·08 kg barley straw per kg diet. Live weights (M) of ewes and lambs, milk yield and milk quality were recorded.WithPconst, andPmob(0·51 and 0·33 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per kg M0.75per day), M gains were 140 and 23 g/day (P< 0·001). Lamb birth mass and subsequent maternal milk yield were not affected. WithLconstandLmob(0·81 and 0·61 MJ ME per kg M0.75 per day), M changes were -28 and -70 g/day (P< 0·001) and milk yields (calculated in part from lamb growth) were 1042 and 892 g/day (P < 0·01). Fhighand Flow(385 and 170 g acid-detergent fibre per kg dry matter) were compared in a two-period change-over design experiment. Milk yields were similar (414 and 427 g/day), milk fat concentrations were 64·8 and 72·9 g/kg (P < 0·001) and milk fat yields were 26·5 and 31·1 g/day (P < 0·001) but solids-not-fat and protein yields were not affected.There were benefits and costs in manipulating body reserves in Awassi sheep. M at lambing affects milk yield and body condition around mating is known to improve lambing rate. The existence of body reserves also allows body condition to be lost in late pregnancy and early lactation without affecting health or apparent welfare, which simplifies management of pregnant ewes, permits feeding of milk-fat-increasing high-fibre diets but the ME to maintain increased body reserves must not be ignored.

Pumpkin kernel and garlic as alternative treatments for the control of Haemonchus contortus in sheep

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 139 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. J. Strickland ◽  
G. L. Krebs ◽  
W. Potts
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Haemonchus Contortus ◽  
Initial Level ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
Voluntary Feed Intake ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Condition Score

Two alternative remedies for controlling Haemonchus contortus in sheep (pumpkin kernel and garlic) were investigated. The experiment involved 18 4-month-old Merino ram lambs with six lambs per treatment group. The lambs were initially drenched to render them worm free, and then infected with 4000 L3 H. contortus larvae, 2 weeks later. Four weeks after infection, faecal egg counts were performed and lambs were allocated into treatment groups and fed their respective diets (control, pumpkin kernel or garlic) for 2 weeks. The lambs were combined into a single group grazing pasture for the last week of the experiment. Faecal worm egg counts (WEC) were carried out weekly for 3 weeks following allocation to treatment diets. Clinical signs of infection observed included liveweight, body condition score and voluntary feed intake. The pumpkin kernel treatment resulted in a 65.5% decrease in the initial level of WEC, but this increased back to the initial level as soon as animals came off treatment. The garlic resulted in a 64.4% decrease in WEC from the initial level and this increased slightly (to 25.5% of the initial level and 43.5% lower than the control) when the animals came off treatment, suggesting that there was a residual effect of the garlic and/or that the garlic had an effect beyond decreasing the fecundity of the parasites. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between treatments in liveweight, body condition score or voluntary feed intake. Throughout the experiment voluntary feed intake and liveweight increased while body condition scores remained stable. We concluded that pumpkin kernel and garlic show potential for parasite control by affecting the fecundity of the parasites. Our results also indicate that with good nutrition lambs can cope with high parasite burdens and still be productive during the early stages of infection.

The use of body condition scoring to ration beef cows in late pregnancy

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Wright ◽  
A. J. F. Russel ◽  
E. A. Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Flat Rate ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Score Gain

ABSTRACTForty-eight Hereford × Friesian and Blue Grey cows ranging in body condition score from 1·75 to 4·0, 12 weeks before calving, were fed to achieve three levels of body condition score at calving. Half the cows were fed on an increasing plane of nutrition as pregnancy advanced and half were fed on a flat-rate feeding system. The condition scores achieved by the three groups at calving were 2·28, 2·47 and 2·70 (s.e.d. 0·071; P < 0·001). Differences in cow body condition at calving were reflected in cow live weight and condition 6 weeks later, but there was no effect on calf performance. Hereford × Friesian cows lost more weight in early lactation, tended to produce more milk and their calves were heavier. Pattern of feeding had no effect on cow condition score or weight at calving or on subsequent performance.It was calculated that each unit of body condition-score loss in late pregnancy contributes the equivalent of 3200 MJ dietary metabolizable energy while 6600 MJ dietary metabolizable energy are required for 1 unit of condition-score gain.

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