Undernutrition in grazing sheep. II.* Calorimetric measurements on sheep taken from pasture

1972 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 499 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Farrell ◽  
RA Leng ◽  
JL Corbett

The fasting heat production (kilocalories per kilogram liveweight) of sheep normally kept at pasture decreased during a period of 4 months when their liveweight was declining owing to low availability of pasture herbage, but increased considerably after shearing in autumn. It subsequently remained higher than for well-nourished sheep, which showed an effect of loss of fleece for only a few weeks. In thin animals critical temperature was higher after shearing, and their rate of increase in heat production as ambient temperature fell below critical was greater than in sheep in good body condition. Energy expenditure per unit of horizontal locomotion or vertical ascent (calories per metre per kilogram) did not vary significantly with body condition, but total daily expenditure at pasture was probably greater for the undernourished sheep. These results, and energy expenditures at pasture calculated from estimates of carbon dioxide entry rate, were consistent with observations on ruminal concentrations of volatile fatty acids and body energy content. The observations indicated that maintenance requirements (kilocalories per kilogram liveweight) of undernourished grazing sheep might be up to 45% greater than those of well-nourished sheep, particularly during inclement weather. __________________ *Part I, Aust. J. Agric. Res., 23: 483 (1972).

1972 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
BA Young ◽  
JL Corbett

Grazing pressure on three pastures was adjusted so that the mean liveweights (W) of three groups of 10 Merino wethers, initially uniform, were kept at nominally 45, 35, and 25 kg. Daily rates of energy expenditure were calculated by measuring the respiratory gaseous exchanges of tracheostomized sheep in each group, and from estimates of CO2 entry rate determined during constant infusion with NaH14CO3. These measurements were made during a period of 3 weeks when the sheep had been at constant W for 9 months, and during a further 3 weeks beginning 30 days after the sheep were shorn. Further measurements were made in two periods of 7 days after animals had been interchanged between groups so that W was increasing in some animals and decreasing in others. Maintenance requirements of all sheep, indicated by the energy expenditures during the periods at constant W, were described by the equation M = 45.1 W + 256, where M is the estimated metabolizable energy requirement in kilocalories per 24 hr. Similar results were obtained during the two periods when W was changing. The requirements were in general 60–70% greater than those for housed sheep of similar W and are discussed in relation to the climatic environment, the condition of the sheep, and the availability of herbage.


2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 60-60
Author(s):  
G. Oikonomou ◽  
G. Arsenos ◽  
G.E. Valergakis ◽  
A. Tsiaras ◽  
G. Banos

Various studies in dairy cows have shown that their Body Condition Score (BCS) effectively reflects their nutritional status and energy content (Ferguson et al. 1994). Extremes in BCS and BCS losses have been identified as a risk factor for health problems and reduced reproductive efficiency (Markusfeld et al. 1997, Lopez-Gatius et al. 2003). Body condition scoring is easy and inexpensive to perform and gives a reliable estimate of body energy reserves. Hence, in practice, BCS can be used as a tool for ration formulation and management decisions concerning reproduction of dairy cows (Banos et al. 2004). The objective of this study was to determine and quantify the impact of BCS in the reproductive performance of primiparous Holstein cows.


1972 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 483 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Farrell ◽  
RA Leng ◽  
JL Corbett

Studies were made on three initially similar groups of adult Merino sheep at pasture; each group comprised eight animals of which four each had a rumen cannula. Group A was kept at about the initial mean liveweight of 35 kg; groups B and C were reduced in weight over 14 weeks by restriction of grazing and then held at about 26 and 23 kg respectively for 9 months. Measurements were made at intervals of 4-6 weeks of ruminal concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia, rumen volume and flow rate of digesta, tritiated water (TOH) space, and blood composition. Haemoglobin concentrations and haematocrit values decreased in the undernourished sheep, but there were no marked changes in blood β-hydroxybutyrate, or lactate, or plasma urea nitrogen. Estimates of body composition from TOH space indicated that sheep in groups B and C lost 51 and 58 Mcal respectively during the first 14 weeks; estimated fat contents were thereafter about 9 and 7% of liveweight. Metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance were calculated from estimated VFA production rates and changes in body energy content. During a 9 month period commencing shortly after shearing and extending into winter, requirements per unit liveweight were about 45% greater for the undernourished groups B and C than for group A.


1982 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
DW Dellow ◽  
ID Hume

Urea and water metabolism were studied in the red-necked pademelon Thylogale thetis. and tammar wallaby Mucropus eugenii fed diets of chopped lucerne hay and fresh grass Phalaris aquatica ad libitum. On both diets T. thetis consumed more nitrogen (P<0.05), plasma urea levels were higher (P<0.05) and urea entry rate was greater (P<0.05) than in M. eugenii. Urea excretion rate was greater (P<0.05) in T. thetis than in M. eugenii on the lucerne diet, and urea degradation rate was greater (P<0.05) in T. thetis on the Phalaris diet. The proportion of urea synthesized that was recycled to and degraded in the digestive tract was similar (52-56%) in both species on both diets. T. thetis consumed more water (feed and drinking water) (P<0.05), and water turnover time was less (P<0.05) and turnover rate greater (P<0.05) than in M. eugenii, on both diets. At least on diets of adequate nitrogen and digestible energy content, it appears that differences in nitrogen metabolism between T. thetis and M. eugenii are not attributable to differences in gut microbial activity; rather, the results of this and other studies suggest that M. eugenii has a greater urine-concentrating ability and lower maintenance requirements than T. thetis.


1987 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penny A. Coyer ◽  
J. P. W. Rivers ◽  
D. J. Millward

1. The effect of dietary protein and energy restriction on heat production and growth costs has been examined in rats fed on a marginal (MP) or high (HP) protein diet, containing 9.2 % or 22 % respectively of the gross energy content as casein. Diets were given either ad fib. or at approximately 25, 50 or 75 % of the ad lib. intake.2. Heat production (kJ/kg body-weight (W)0.75 per d) was increased by 23% in rats fed on the MP diet ad Lib., as compared with their HP controls (P < 0.01).3. Factorial analysis of the data showed that the overall cost of energy deposition (kJ/kJ; Ee) was elevated on the MP diet (MP 1.7, HP 1.28; P < 0.001). Maintenance requirements (kJ/kg W0.75 per d) for zero energy balance were unchanged (MP 562, HP 573).The partial energy cost of protein deposition (Ep) varied with dietary manipulation. If the partial energy cost of fat deposition (Ef) was assumed constant at 1.25 kJ/kJ, and maintenance requirements were assumed to vary with metabolic body size (W0.75), Ep was elevated on the MP diet. On both diets, Ep was reduced at low energy intakes.5. The significance of these results is discussed in the context of current approaches to the analysis and interpretation of findings describing dietary induced changes in the rate of heat production.


2001 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Schwager-Suter ◽  
C. Stricker ◽  
D. Erdin ◽  
N. Künzi

Abstract Net energy efficiencies were calculated from data of an experimental herd with respect to type of cow, lactation number, stage of lactation and diet. The trial consisted of 71 Holstein-Friesians, 71 Jerseys and 71 Holstein-Jersey F1-crosses in 1st, 2nd and > 2nd lactation. Data were collected during 210 days of lactation, from calving to week 30 and included total dry matter intake, energy content of foods, milk yield, milk solids, body weight, body condition scores and several body measurements. The cows were divided into four feeding groups : high and low energy content of roughage as well as high and low proportion of concentrates. Net energy efficiency was calculated as the ratio of milk energy to total net energy intake after subtracting energy utilized for maintenance and body tissue change. Body tissue change was calculated either via body-weight changes or body condition-score changes. Due to the distribution of the efficiencies being skewed, efficiencies were transformed applying a Box-Cox transformation. Transformed net energy efficiencies were analysed using a repeated measurements design considering the sequential nature of the observations. Mixed models with a compound symmetry structure for the variance components were applied. Final models contained the fixed effects of type, lactation number, feeding group and the covariates week of lactation and its square. Holstein-Jersey crosses were more efficient than purebreds, second lactation cows were least efficient, cows given low energy roughage and a lower proportion of concentrates were more efficient than cows on the other diets. Least efficient were the cows belonging to the high energy roughage and higher proportion of concentrates group. The coefficients of determination of the final models were between 0·357 and 0·492.


Parasitology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 144 (9) ◽  
pp. 1221-1228 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHUN ZHOU ◽  
HONG ZOU ◽  
SHAN G. WU ◽  
GUI T. WANG ◽  
DAVID J. MARCOGLIESE ◽  
...  

SUMMARYField surveys indicate that host population size, rather than density, is the most important determinant of monogenean infection dynamics. To verify this prediction, epidemic parameters were monitored for 70 days at five host population sizes held at constant density using a goldfish – Gyrodactylus kobayashii laboratory model. During the first 20 days, the rate of increase of prevalence and mean abundance was faster in small host populations. Total mean prevalence and total mean abundance throughout the experiment were not significantly affected by host population sizes. Higher transmission rates were detected in larger host populations. However, there were no significant differences in effective contact rates among the five host populations on each sampling day during the first 20 days, implying that contact rates may be saturated at a sufficiently high host density. These results demonstrate that the epidemic occurs more quickly in smaller host populations at the beginning of the experiment. However, the epidemic is independent of the host population size due to the similar effective contact rates in the five population sizes. Significant negative influence of the initial body condition (Kn) of uninfected goldfish on total mean abundance of parasites suggests that susceptibility of hosts is also a determinant of parasite transmission.


Author(s):  
Bonjin Koo ◽  
Olumide Adeshakin ◽  
Charles Martin Nyachoti

Abstract An experiment was performed to evaluate the energy content of extruded-expelled soybean meal (EESBM) and the effects of heat treatment on energy utilization in growing pigs. Eighteen growing barrows (18.03 ± 0.61 kg initial body weight) were individually housed in metabolism crates and randomly allotted to one of three dietary treatments (six replicates/treatment). The three experimental diets were: a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet and two test diets with simple substitution of a basal diet with intact EESBM or heat-treated EESBM (heat-EESBM) at a 7:3 ratio. Intact EESBM was autoclaved at 121°C for 60 min to make heat-treated EESBM. Pigs were fed the experimental diets for 16 d, including 10 d for adaptation and 6 d for total collection of feces and urine. Pigs were then moved into indirect calorimetry chambers to determine 24-h heat production and 12-h fasting heat production. The energy content of EESBM was calculated using the difference method. Data were analyzed using the Mixed procedure of SAS with the individual pig as the experimental unit. Pigs fed heat-EESBM diets showed lower (P &lt; 0.05) apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter (DM), gross energy, and nitrogen than those fed intact EESBM. A trend (P ≤ 0.10) was observed for greater heat increments in pigs fed intact EESBM than those fed heat-EESBM. This resulted in intact EESBM having greater (P &lt; 0.05) digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents than heat-EESBM. However, no difference was observed in net energy (NE) contents between intact EESBM and heat-EESBM, showing a tendency (P ≤ 0.10) toward an increase in NE/ME efficiency in heat-EESBM, but comparable NE contents between intact and heat-EESBM. In conclusion, respective values of DE, ME, and NE are 4,591 kcal/kg, 4,099 kcal/kg, and 3,189 kcal/kg in intact EESBM on a DM basis. It is recommended to use NE values of feedstuffs that are exposed to heat for accurate diet formulation.


1972 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Clapperton ◽  
J. W. Czerkawski

1. Propane-1:2-diol (loog/d) was infused through a cannula into the rumen of sheep receiving a ration of hay and dried grass. The concentration of volatile fatty acids, propanediol, lactic acid and of added polyethylene glycol, and the pH of the rumen contents were measured. The energy metabolism of the sheep was also determined.2. Most of the propanediol disappeared from the rumen within 4 h of its infusion. The infusion of propanediol resulted in a 10% decrease in the concentration of total volatile acids; the concentration of acetic acid decreased by about 30%, that of propionic acid increased by up to 60% and there was no change in the concentration of butyric acid.3. The methane production of the sheep decreased by about 9% after the infusion of propanediol and there were increases in the oxgyen consumption, carbon dioxide production and heat production of the animals; each of these increases was equivalent to about 40% of the theoretical value for the complete metabolism of 100 g propanediol.4. It is concluded that, when propanediol is introduced into the rumen, a proportion is metabolized in the rumen and a large proportion is absorbed directly. Our thanks are due to Dr J. H. Moore for helpful discussions, to Mr D. R. Paterson, Mr J. R. McDill and Mr C. E. Park for looking after the animals and to Miss K. M. Graham, Miss A. T. McKay and Mrs C. E. Ramage for performing the analyses.


1979 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 541-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. R. ØRskov ◽  
D. A. Grubb ◽  
J. S. Smith ◽  
A. J. F. Webster ◽  
W. Corrigall

1. Two experiments were conducted with lambs sustained entirely by intragastric infusion of volatile fatty acids (VFA), protein, minerals and vitamins.2. In the first experiment to determine the effects of VFA on nitrogen retention four mixtures of VFA (B, C, D and E) were used containing acetic, propionic and butyric acid in the following molar proportions respectively: 45,45 and 10; 55,35 and 10; 65,25 and 10; 75, 15 and 10.The level of infusion was 836 kJ/live weight0.75 per d and the design was a 4 × 4 Latin square with 14 d periods. There were no significant differences in the N balance between the different mixtures of VFA though mixture B tended to give the highest N retention.3. Thirty-two lambs were used in the second experiment for measurements of heat production in closed- circuit respiration chambers. Six mixtures of VFA were used. These included mixtures B-E from Expt I and in addition two mixtures (A and F) containing acetic, propionic and butyric acid in the following molar proportions respectively: 35, 55 and 10; 85, 5 and 10. The heat production was measured both at 450 and 900 kJ/W0.75 per d, except for mixture F, where it was not possible to achieve a rate of infusion in excess of 675 kJ/W0.75 per d.4. The energy required for maintenance was determined to be 0.45±0.02 MJ/kg live weight0.75 per d regardless of the mixture used.5. The efficiency of utilization for fattening (kf) values for the six mixtures were 0.78, 0.64, 057, 0.61, 0.61 and 0.59 for mixtures A, B, C, D, E and F respectively. Only mixture A was significantly better utilized than the other mixtures. This mixture also gave the most efficient N utilization.6. It is concluded from this evidence that differences in k, for diets normally given to ruminants cannot be attributed to differences in utilization of volatile fatty acids.


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