Effects of undernutrition in late pregnancy on the nitrogen and energy metabolism of ewes

1968 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham N McC
Keyword(s):  
Energy Metabolism ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Urea Clearance ◽  
Urea Nitrogen ◽  
Heat Increment ◽  
Gross Energy ◽  
Pregnancy Toxaemia

The nitrogen metabolism of five non-pregnant ewes and 16 pregnant ewes was studied. The aim was to examine the effects of pregnancy on the response to severe undernutrition. Some measurements of energy metabolism and blood composition were also made. Pregnant ewes excreted less urea nitrogen in the urine than did non-pregnant ewes when they were all well fed. When food intake was reduced by 75%, excretion by the non-pregnant ewes declined, whereas excretion by the pregnant ewes declined less or increased. After 5 days on the lower ration, pregnant ewes excreted up to 9 g more urea nitrogen daily than did non-pregnant ewes. Urea clearance was constant throughout and was 30–40% of creatinine clearance. Undernutrition caused hypoglycaemia and hyperketonaemia in the pregnant ewes only but there were no clinical signs of pregnancy toxaemia. The heat production of pregnant ewes declined when their ration was reduced. The estimated heat increment of pregnancy was greater with the reduced ration than with the large ration and it is suggested that this change represented the energy cost of gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis from protein. The gross energy content of protein apparently oxidized was estimated to be about 20% of the energy requirement of the foetus. The effects of pregnancy on nitrogen and energy metabolism and on response to undernutrition were approximately proportional to the birth weight of the lamb, and were smaller 7 weeks before lambing than 2 weeks before lambing.

Studies on the carbohydrate metabolism of sheep. X. Further studies on hypoglycaemia and hyperketonaemia in undernourished pregnant ewes and in ewes with pregnancy toxaemia

1960 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 346 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL Reid
Keyword(s):  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Clinical Syndrome ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Under Nutrition ◽  
Blood Glucose Levels ◽  
Previous Level ◽  
Pregnancy Toxaemia

Data on blood glucose, ketone, and acetic acid values have been obtained over a period of several years from field cases of pregnancy toxaemia and from cases induced experimentally and their controls. When feed intake is controlled, differences between blood glucose and ketone levels in ewes moderately undernourished in late pregnancy are largely dependent on the number of foetuses. The consistency of these differences often allows accurate diagnosis of multiple and single pregnancies. Differences in blood glucose between undernourished monotocous and polytocous ewes disappear when undernutrition becomes severe or in the early stages of fasting after a period of moderate undernutrition. Differences in blood ketones tend to be maintained even after several days of fasting. The level of blood ketones during fasting depends on the previous level of nutrition of the ewe; blood glucose is unaffected by previous level of nutrition. The frequent presence of persistent normoglycaemia in ewes with pregnancy toxaemia is discussed in the light of data presented; it is concluded that the onset of pregnancy toxaemia often occurs in the presence of normal blood glucose levels. Blood volatile fatty acid (V.F.A.) levels are often high in those cases of pregnancy toxaemia which occur largely as a result of severe under nutrition in late pregnancy, in spite of an almost empty rumen. Only acetic acid was detected in six blood samples examined; this is considered to be of metabolic origin, but there is no consistent relationship with blood ketone level. The usual clinical syndrome of pregnancy toxaemia can be classified as acute or subacute. In the latter, cerebral depression reaches a certain stage of severity which is then maintained, survival is often prolonged, and ewes do not become comatose before death. Cases of pregnancy toxaemia induced by under nutrition alone usually show the acute syndrome. Blood ketones are higher in such cases than in fasted ewes showing no clinical signs; the critical blood ketone level appears to be about 30 mg per 100 ml. Cases induced in previously well-nourished ewes by fasting in association with a severe environmental stress are usually subacute; blood ketones are no higher than in ewes not showing clinical signs and are often considerably below 30 mg per 100 ml. The significance of these observations is discussed.

scholarly journals Influence of diet and microbial activity in the digestive tract on digestibility, and nitrogen and energy metabolism in rats and pigs

1982 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. O. Eggum ◽  
Grete Thorbek ◽  
R. M. Beames ◽  
A. Chwalibog ◽  
S. Henckel
Keyword(s):  
Energy Metabolism ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Digestive Tract ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Crude Fibre ◽  
Weight Range ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Gross Energy

1. Balance trials with respiration measurements were performed with twelve rats and twelve pigs given either low- or high-crude-fibre diets. There were six collection periods with the rats over a live-weight range of 86–264 g and three collection periods with the pigs over a live-weight range of 30–55 kg. Measurements were made on the influence of microbial activity in the digestive tract on digestibility and nitrogen and energy metabolism. Dietary inclusion of the antibiotic Nebacitin was the method used to reduce the microbial population.2. The microbial activity in the hind-gut (μmol ATP/g air-dry contents) of antibiotic-treated rats was reduced to approximately one-tenth of that of untreated rats.3. Live-weight gain was not significantly affected in either species by a reduction in the microbial activity, in spite of a reduction in dry matter digestibility in animals with reduced microflora.4. For rats on low-crude-fibre diets, a reduction in microflora reduced digestibility of all nutrients and energy and metabolizability of digestible energy by approximately 5·4%. All differences were highly significant. On high-crude-fibre diets the decrease was approximately 5·9%. In pigs on both crude fibre levels, the digestibility was also influenced by the level of microflora, but the pattern was somewhat different from that obtained with rats, with the Nebacitin treatment increasing the digestibility of N slightly, and the digestibility of fat markedly.5. Retained N in rats reached a maximum when the rats were approximately 60 d old and thereafter decreased with increasing age. However, for pigs daily N retention increased with age. The retained N:digested N value decreased linearly with age in the rats, but varied little with age over the range (104–146 d) studied in the pigs.6. The metabolizability of gross energy (metabolizable energy (ME): gross energy) was significantly reduced with an increase in crude fibre level and by the addition of Nebacitin.7. Retained energy (RE) in relation to ME (RE:ME), was not significantly affected either by level of microbial activity or by crude fibre.8. The ratio, RE as fat (RF):RE as protein (RP) increased as the animals grew. In the rat experiment there was a tendency for RP to be higher for animals with normal microflora than for animals with reduced microflora for both crude fibre levels.9. With rats, the regression analyses indicated that the energy requirement for maintenance could be influenced by both the level of microbial activity in the digestive tract and by the level of fibre in the diet. The net availability of ME for maintenance and growth by rats averaged 0·72 for all treatments.10. The net availability of ME for growth in the pigs averaged 0·65 for all treatments.

EFFECTS OF INSULIN, GLUCOSE AND GLYCEROL ON FAT METABOLISM IN ALLOXAN-DIABETIC SHEEP

1963 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. REID ◽  
N. T. HINKS
Keyword(s):  
Ketone Bodies ◽  
Fat Metabolism ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Present Knowledge ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Diabetic Ketosis ◽  
Glucose Injection ◽  
Severe Diabetes ◽  
Pregnancy Toxaemia

SUMMARY The effects of insulin, glucose injection and oral glycerol on blood or plasma levels of glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), acetic acid and ketone bodies have been studied in alloxan-diabetic sheep. Insulin (0·5 i.u./kg.) lowered glucose levels only slightly, but induced a prompt and marked fall in FFA and acetate levels; ketones declined steadily after the first hour. The rate of utilization of injected glucose was considerably slower in diabetic than in non-diabetic sheep. FFA levels did not decline after glucose injection, while acetate levels declined slowly. Ketone levels were not affected significantly. Glycerol (180 ml.) per os reduced acetate and ketone levels, while tending to increase FFA values. Blood glucose also increased considerably. These data are consistent with present knowledge of the metabolic lesions in severe diabetes. However, it is concluded that there is impairment of acetate and, probably, ketone oxidation in severe diabetic ketosis. Finally, the metabolic changes recorded are compared with those which occur after insulin, glucose or glycerol administration to ewes showing clinical signs of ovine pregnancy toxaemia following severe and prolonged undernourishment in late pregnancy.

Studies on the carbohydrate metabolism of sheep. XI. The role of the adrenals in ovine pregnancy toxaemia

1960 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 364 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL Reid
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Metabolic Effects ◽  
Adrenal Steroid ◽  
Under Nutrition ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Pregnant Ewe ◽  
Pregnancy Toxaemia

Plasma cortisol levels in fed and fasted non-pregnant and in undernourished pregnant ewes were consistently less than 1.5 µg per 100 ml. Most values were considerably above this level in 20 field cases of pregnancy toxaemia, 31 of 52 values being greater than 3 µg per 100 ml. These levels must be regarded as abnormally high in sheep. Pregnancy toxaemia was induced in two experiments by fasting after a period of severe under nutrition and in two by fasting previously well-nourished ewes in the presence of severe psychological stresses. The onset of clinical signs was associated with marked increases above normal in plasma cortisol. In three experiments involving a total of 23 previously well-nourished ewes, 11 of which carried twins or triplets, only one mild case of pregnancy toxaemia was induced by complete fasting in late pregnancy for up to 6 days, in the absence of any additional environmental stress. Pregnancy toxaemia was readily induced in 24 of 38 ewes in three experiments when severe psychological stresses accompanied fasting in late pregnancy. Adrenal hypertrophy, indicating sustained adrenal hyperactivity, was most pronounced in field cases of pregnancy toxaemia induced primarily by sustained under nutrition. Fresh adrenal weights (total of two adrenals) averaged 6.7 g compared to 3.8 g in normal non-pregnant ewes. Mean plasma cortisol levels in ewes with pregnancy toxaemia were significantly correlated with fresh adrenal weight. The suggestions that abnormalities of carbohydrate and fat metabolism in ewes with pregnancy toxaemia are those of adrenal steroid diabetes, and that cerebral depression may be largely a consequence of a cortisol-induced inhibition of glucose utilization, are discussed in the light of the probable metabolic effects of cortisol in the undernourished pregnant ewe.

scholarly journals Possibility of Using House Cricket (Acheta domesticus) or Mulberry Silkworm (Bombyx mori) Pupae Meal to Replace Poultry Meal in Canine Diets Based on Health and Nutrient Digestibility

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2680
Author(s):  
Sathita Areerat ◽  
Pipatpong Chundang ◽  
Chalermpol Lekcharoensuk ◽  
Attawit Kovitvadhi
Keyword(s):  
Bombyx Mori ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Acheta Domesticus ◽  
House Cricket ◽  
Mulberry Silkworm ◽  
Silkworm Bombyx Mori

There has been increasing interest in using insects as sustainable protein sources for humans and animals. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the possibility of substituting poultry meal with house cricket (Acheta domesticus: AD) or mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori: BM) pupae. Fifty healthy adult mixed-breed dogs were selected and divided into five experimental groups, which were fed, in amounts based on daily energy requirement, with a control diet, a diet with 10% AD, with 20% AD, with 7% BM, or with 14% BM. Days 0–22 and 23–28 of the experiment served as the adaptation and collection phases, respectively. Haematology and blood chemistry were collected at days 0, 14, and 28, and body weight, body condition score, feed intake, faecal output, faecal score, faecal moisture, and apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter and nutrients were measured during the collection phase. The results from this study suggested that AD and BM can replace poultry meal without any adverse consequences on all measured parameters (p > 0.05). Therefore, AD at 20% or BM at 14% can be used in canine diet formulations. However, long-term feeding trials should be conducted and should focus on clinical signs relating to hypersensitivity disorders.

The composition of the milk of antarctic (Arctocephalus gazella) and subantarctic (A. tropicalis) fur seals at Macquarie Island

1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon D. Goldsworthy ◽  
Helen M. Crowley
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Arctocephalus Gazella ◽  
Macquarie Island ◽  
Fur Seals ◽  
Fur Seal ◽  
Gross Energy ◽  
Subantarctic Fur Seals

The composition of milk collected from 36 antarctic (Arctocephalus gazella) and 17 subantarctic fur seals (A. tropicalis) breeding sympatrically at Macquarie Island was examined over the first 100 days of lactation in the 1990/91 season. The mean composition of milk in A. gazella and A. tropicalis was 41.3% and 44.6% water, 39.8% and 38.6% lipid, 18.1% and 16.1% protein, and the estimated gross energy content of milk was 19.9 and 18.9 kJ g–1, respectively. Neither the composition of milk nor its energy density differed significantly between species, despite a difference of 4–6 months in lactation length. Water content of milk could be used to predict lipid (r2 = 0.67) and protein (r2 = 0.57) content, but was most accurate at predicting gross energy content (r2 = 0.97). These relationships were the same for each species. The water content of milk decreased throughout the first 100 days of lactation in both species, while lipid, protein and energy content all increased. The addition of maternal mass into regression analysis with days post-partum increased the significance of models predicting the content of lipid and proteins in the milk, but not those predicting the water or gross energy content. Milk collected on the first day of 2-day attendance bouts had, on average, 9% greater lipid content, and 5% greater protein content than milk collected on the second day. The growth rates of subantarctic fur seal pups were significantly lower than those of antarctic fur seal pups over the first month of growth, suggesting that (despite similar milk composition, attendance patterns and diet of the two species of fur seal) the overall rates of energy transfer from mother to pup in subantarctic fur seals is lower than in antarctic fur seals.

scholarly journals Glucose partitioning in the pregnant ewe: Effects of undernutrition and exercise

1990 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 449-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Leury ◽  
A. R. Bird ◽  
K. D. Chandler ◽  
A. W. Bell
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Uptake ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Maternal Blood ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Entry Rate ◽  
Glucose Transfer ◽  
Glucose Supply ◽  
Maternal Glucose

Maternal whole-body glucose entry rate and uterine and umbilical net uptakes of glucose and oxygen were measured in single-pregnant ewes which were either well-fed throughout, or fed at 0.3–0.4 predicted energy requirement for 7–21 d during late pregnancy. All ewes were studied while standing at rest and then while walking on a treadmill at 0.7 m/s on a 10° slope for 60 min. Underfed ewes suffered significant decreases in live weight and had lower fetal, but not placental, weights at 140–144 d gestation. Undernutrition also caused large decreases in maternal glycaemia and glucose entry rate, which were associated with equally large decreases in uterine and umbilical net uptakes and O2 quotients of glucose, and with a decrease in placental glucose transfer capacity. Exercise caused increases in maternal blood concentration, entry rate and uterine net uptake of glucose, the magnitudes of which were not significantly affected by plane of nutrition. Umbilical glucose uptake and placental glucose transfer capacity increased during exercise in underfed but not fed ewes. The fractional distribution of maternal glucose to the pregnant uterus, and of uterine glucose uptake to the fetus, were unaltered by undernutrition; during exercise, a disproportionately small fraction of the increased maternal glucose supply went to the uterus. The results confirm that the ovine conceptus responds to nutritional reduction in maternal glucose availability in a manner similar to non-uterine maternal tissues. Major reductions in glucose supply appear to override putative glucose-sparing mechanisms which may operate to favour the conceptus in better-nourished animals.

Satiation and compensation for short-term changes in food quality and availability in young Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus)

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (7) ◽  
pp. 1061-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A.S Rosen ◽  
Andrew W Trites
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Eumetopias Jubatus ◽  
Steller Sea Lions ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Sea Lions ◽  
Gross Energy

Foraging theory predicts that animals should proportionately increase their food intake to compensate for reduced food energy content and (or) prey availability. However, the theoretical intake levels will, at some point, exceed the digestive capacity of the predator. We tested the ability of Steller sea lions, Eumetopias jubatus (Schreber, 1776), to compensate for short-term changes in prey energy density and availability, and quantified the maximum amount of food a young sea lion could consume. Five 1–2-year-old captive Steller sea lions were offered either herring (high energy) or capelin (low energy) each day or every second day. When prey were available on a daily basis, the sea lions compensated for differences in the energy content of herring and capelin by consuming sufficient quantities of each (8.3 vs. 14.0 kg·d–1, respectively) to maintain equivalent gross energy intakes. When herring was available only on alternate days, the sea lions increased their consumption by 52% to 11.5 kg·d–1, which was not sufficient to maintain an average gross intake equal to that maintained when herring was available every day. When capelin was available only on alternate days, some animals increased their intake for a few days, but average intake (15.2 kg·d–1) was far below levels observed during daily feeding. Generally, the sea lions appeared to reach their digestive limit at a level equivalent to 14%–16% of their body mass. Our findings suggest that Steller sea lions can alter their food intake in response to short-term changes in prey quality or availability, but that these variables can quickly combine to necessitate food intake levels that exceed the physiological digestive capacities of young animals.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document