Studies on the Nutrition of Macropodine Marsupials. 2. Urea and Water Metabolism in Thylogale Thetis and Macropus Eugenii; Two Wallabies From Divergent Habitats.

1982 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
DW Dellow ◽  
ID Hume
Keyword(s):  
Energy Content ◽  
Tammar Wallaby ◽  
Turnover Time ◽  
Water Metabolism ◽  
Entry Rate ◽  
Plasma Urea ◽  
Macropus Eugenii ◽  
Water Feed ◽  
Maintenance Requirements ◽  
Urine Concentrating Ability

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.

Milk composition of the Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii Desmarest) (Macropodoidea:Marsupialia) in captivity

2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Rose ◽  
A. D. Shetewi ◽  
K. Flowers
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Growth ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Tammar Wallaby ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Lactation Period ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Macropus Eugenii ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
High Level

This is the first study of milk composition in any member of the wallaby genus Thylogale. Milk samples (n = 44) were collected after oxytocin injection from 12 females carrying pouch young aged 2–30 weeks followed by sampling of the mothers until weaning by Week 39. The lactation period could be partitioned into early (Weeks 2–20), mid (Weeks 21–30) and late (>30 weeks) stages. Although milk concentrations changed little during lactation the energy content increased almost 4-fold from 540 ± 39 kJ (100 mL)–1 (mean ± s.e.) to 1908 ± 102 kJ (100 mL)–1. Carbohydrate concentrations decreased from 13.3 ± 0.1 g (100 mL)–1 (early lactation) to 10.9 ± 0.9 g (100 mL)–1 in mid-lactation, falling to 4.8 ± 0.9 g (100 mL)–1 in late lactation. Lipid increased from 6.3 ± 1.1 g (100 mL)–1 to 12.5 ± 4.1 g (100 mL)–1, reaching 31.4 ± 5.0 g (100 mL)–1 in late lactation. Protein increased from 3.3 ± 0.1 g (100 mL)–1 to 9.7 ± 1.6 g (100 mL)–1 in mid-lactation to 14.0 ± 1.5 g (100 mL)–1 in late lactation. This relatively high level of lipid and protein in late lactation may be the cause of the more rapid growth and, hence, shorter pouch life of the Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii) compared with the well studied tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii).

Milk Consumption and Energetics of Growth in Pouch Young of the Tammar Wallaby, Macropus-Eugenii

1988 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 217 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Green ◽  
JC Merchant ◽  
K Newgrain
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Growth Efficiency ◽  
Mass Gain ◽  
Tammar Wallaby ◽  
Milk Consumption ◽  
Macropus Eugenii ◽  
Consumption Rates ◽  
Conversion Efficiencies

Milk consumption rates of young tammar wallabies, Macropus eugenii, were measured during the first 32 weeks of lactation by means of 22*Na turnover. Milk consumption rates were low during the first 18 weeks or so of lactation, rising from 1.2 to 9.0 ml d-'. Milk consumption rose to 43 ml d-' at 30 weeks post-partum. Changes in milk consumption were paralleled by increases in the size of mammary glands and weight gain by the sucklings. The mass gain for each millilitre of milk consumed (crude growth efficiency) averaged 0.23 g ml-I during the first 26 weeks of lactation, but then increased to more than 0.35 g ml-'. The increased growth efficiency was associated with massive increases in the lipid and energy content of milk from 26 weeks onwards. The conversion efficiencies of milk protein and energy to body materials were intermediate (55-87%, 23-36%, respectively) to those of other mammals, which suggests that the slow growth of pouch young during the first 17 weeks of lactation is the result of restricted milk production by the mother. Milk production and the growth of young were closely correlated with maternal mass (r=0.96; r=0.80, respectively) at 16 weeks post-partum.

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
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Entry Rate ◽  
Energy Expenditures ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Grazing Sheep ◽  
Maintenance Requirements ◽  
Body Energy

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).

scholarly journals Growth of the corpus luteum and its progesterone content during pregnancy in the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii

Reproduction ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Renfree ◽  
S. W. Green ◽  
I. R. Young
Keyword(s):  
Corpus Luteum ◽  
Tammar Wallaby ◽  
Macropus Eugenii
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