Annual Cycles of the Kidney Fat Index in a Southeastern White-Tailed Deer Herd

1984 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul E. Johns ◽  
Michael H. Smith ◽  
Ronald K. Chesser
Keyword(s):  
Annual Cycles ◽  
Kidney Fat ◽  
Kidney Fat Index

Kidney Weight Variation and the Kidney Fat Index: An Evaluation

1985 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk Van Vuren ◽  
Bruce E. Coblentz
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Weight ◽  
Weight Variation ◽  
Kidney Fat ◽  
Kidney Fat Index

Body condition assessment and prediction of fasting endurance in wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Boos ◽  
C. Thouzeau ◽  
G. Delacour ◽  
M. Artois ◽  
S. Marchandeau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Fat Mass ◽  
Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽  
Leg Length ◽  
Available Energy ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Kidney Fat ◽  
Kidney Fat Index ◽  
Lipid Stores ◽  
The Impact

In many species, reproductive success, resistance to food shortage and immune response to parasitism depend on body nutrient reserves. Thus, determining body fuels is important for studying the impact of the environment on animal fitness. As an alternative to the usual biochemical methods, we have defined models for estimating body composition in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). The accuracy of the indices obtained on a source group was tested on an independent group. The models were applicable regardless of age, sex or season. The intact body mass already accounted for 90% of the protein variability. The most accurate equation combining dry body mass and interscapular fat mass explained 99% of the protein variations. Intact body mass and the kidney fat index were poor estimators of lipid stores (r2 = 0.45) but 90% of the variation was explained by an equation combining the interscapular fat mass and the hind leg length. None of the predictive equations significantly over- or underestimated body reserves. The usefulness of the models was assessed by estimating fasting endurance during winter. Individual estimates, ranging from two to eight days, did not differ by more than 0.5 day from the fasting endurance obtained from actual mobilisable body nutrients. In such lean species (adiposity 2–4%), proteins may account for up to 40% of the available energy reserves and survival is likely to be linked to the continuous availability of food resources. These results stress the need to determine proteins and not only lipids to have a pertinent tool for the management of wild animal populations, particularly in lean species.

The relationship between fertility and fat reserves of Peary caribou

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 597-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald C. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Pregnancy Rates ◽  
Marrow Fat ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Kidney Fat ◽  
Kidney Fat Index ◽  
Harsh Climate ◽  
Energy Balances

There was a close association between pregnancy rates and levels of fat reserves and body weights in Peary caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) collected in the late winters of 1974 through 1977 on several islands in the Canadian Arctic. Pregnancy rates were <8% in adult (>2 years) females weighing <53 kg in March and April, >75% in those weighing >57 kg, and 100% in those >67 kg in weight. Pregnancy rates increased progressively from 7 to 100% as the percentage marrow fat increased from 43 to 79% and the kidney-fat index increased from 24 to 41%. Only heavy (>46 kg) yearling (21 month) females with high fat reserves were pregnant. Reproduction virtually ceased from 1973–1974 to 1975–1976 in Peary caribou on the western Queen Elizabeth Islands because their physical condition was poor. Pregnancy rates were as high as 100% in females in a second population located on Somerset and Prince of Wales islands, and in 1974–1975 four of five yearling females were pregnant. The adjustment of fertility to energy reserves is viewed as an adaptation to conserve energy. It is well developed in Peary caribou whose environment is characterized by a highly variable and often harsh climate in which negative energy balances probably prevail for 8 to 10 months of the year.

scholarly journals Bone marrow and kidney fat as indicators of condition in reindeer

Rangifer ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauri Nieminen ◽  
Matti Laitinen
Keyword(s):  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Visual Estimation ◽  
Marrow Fat ◽  
Oven Drying ◽  
Ether Extraction ◽  
Kidney Fat ◽  
Kidney Fat Index

Back-fat depth, kidney-fat index (KFI), fat and triglyceride contents in femur and metatarsal marrows were measured from 92 semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) in northern Finland during 1980-84. The age of the reindeer varied from 5 months to 10 years and marrow fat content was estimated by five different methods: standard ether extraction, oven-drying (Neiland, 1970), reagent-dry assay (Verme and Holland, 1973), compression method (Greer, 1968) and visual estimation (Cheatum, 1949). The kidney-fat index (Riney, 1955) was significantly related (r=0.892) to the percent marrow fat in femur and metatarsus. The oven-drying method gave high correlations with results obtained by ether extraction and reagent-dry methods. Oven-drying produced a lower mean dry-weight value than reagent-drying (1.31 &plusmn;0.36%). The amount of compression had a concave relationship with the ether-extractable fat content of femur and metatarsal marrows. The subjectiveness of the visual estimation technique limited its use. Femur marrow fat contents (dry-weight %) in reindeer which died from starvation varied between 2 - 8%. Metatarsal fat contents were slightly higher. Adult males had a mean triglyceride content of 46.8 |Jmol/g in August in the femur. Adult females had slightly lower values. The amount of triglycerides was significantly related to the ether-extractable fat content of the femur (r=0.914) and metatarsal (r=0.911).

Low-level parasitic worm burdens may reduce body condition in free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Parasitology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. IRVINE ◽  
H. CORBISHLEY ◽  
J. G. PILKINGTON ◽  
S. D. ALBON
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Intensity Of Infection ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Kidney Fat ◽  
Kidney Fat Index ◽  
Abundant Genus

Regulation of ungulate populations by parasites relies on establishing a density-dependent relationship between infection and vital demographic rates which may act through the effect of parasites on body condition. We examine evidence for parasite impacts in 285 red deer (Cervus elaphus) harvested during 1991 and 1992 on the Isle of Rum. In the abomasa, prevalence of nematodes was 100% and the most abundant genus observed were Ostertagia species, however, mean intensity of infection was low (less than 1000) relative to other studies. Additional species, also present in low numbers, included Nematodirus spp., Capillaria spp., Cooperia spp., Monieza expanza, Oesophagostomum venulosum and Trichuris ovis. Lungworm (Dictyocaulus spp.) and tissue worm (Elaphostronygylus cervi) larvae were also observed in faecal samples. There was no evidence for acquired immunity to abomasal nematodes. Despite low levels of infection, both adult male and female deer showed significant negative correlation between indices of condition (kidney fat index, dressed carcass weight and larder weight) and intensity of Ostertagia spp. infection. However, there was no evidence that pregnancy rate in females was related to intensity of infection. For calves, there was no relationship between body condition and intensity of infection. The apparent subclinical effects of low-level parasite infection on red deer performance could alternatively be due to animals in poorer nutritional state being more susceptible to infection. Either way the results suggest that further studies of wild populations are justified, in particular where high local host densities exist or alternative ungulate hosts are present, and, where experimental treatments are tractable.

scholarly journals Comparative analysis of body weight and condition in two brown hare populations

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 176-181
Author(s):  
Péter Farkas ◽  
István Majzinger
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Great Plain ◽  
Lepus Europaeus ◽  
Brown Hare ◽  
Game Management ◽  
Equality Of Means ◽  
Kidney Fat ◽  
Kidney Fat Index ◽  
Perirenal Fat

The condition of the populations are useful parameters for the reasonable game management. In this study the physical condition of Brown hare stocks (Lepus europaeus, Pallas 1785) was analyzed, measured body weight (BW) and determined kidney fat index (KFI). These methods were applied during our survey in the hunting period of 2014/15 and 2015/16. In total 272 (123 male and 149 female) samples were collected from two hunting areas in Great Plain (from County Békés and Jász-Nagykun Szolnok). The aim of our work was to collect data concerning the conditions of the populations. All hares was sexed and classified in 2 age groups (young <1years), and (old> 1years). The age was established by Stroh-mark in the hunting field and by dried eye lenses in the laboratory. BW and the weight of the kidney and perirenal fat was measured and the data were statistically analysed (group statistics, Levene’s test for Equality of Variances and, t-tests for Equality of Means). As a result of our examination the range of KFI was 1.25-5.14. The weight of perirenal fat was between 2-34gramm.KFI was greater in females than males. The average BW of the hares in every age groups were less than it is according to literature dates, however the conditions of the hares were good and in very good in both hunting areas. The BW and the amount of the perirenal fat in adult female hares were the greatest.

The potential role of habitat on intestinal helminths of mountain hares, Lepus timidus

2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 345-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.A.R. Hulbert ◽  
B. Boag
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Lepus Timidus ◽  
Kidney Fat ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Kidney Fat Index ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Forestry Plantations ◽  
The Impact

Over the last century in the uplands of Scotland, the extent of heather moorland which supports high densities of mountain hares Lepus timidus has diminished and has gradually been replaced by large-scale commercial forestry plantations or expanding natural woodlands. The potential impact of such a change in land use on host–parasite interactions was investigated by comparing the intensity and prevalence of infection of hares by parasites in two separate habitats: a large hare-fenced young forestry plantation and the adjacent open moorland. Carcasses were collected in November 1990 from within both habitats and after the woodland had been enclosed for nine months. Age, sex, fatness (kidney fat index) and degree of infection of hares were noted. Two parasites were recorded: the nematode Trichostrongylus retortaeformis and the cestode Mosgovoyia pectinata. Clear differences in the intensity of infection of adults occupying the different habitats had occurred in the nine months since woodland enclosure. Adult mountain hares in the woodland had levels of infections approaching four times that observed in hares occupying the open moorland and although not significant, the prevalence of infection was greater in hosts inhabiting the woodland than the open moorland. It is suggested that the parasite–host relationship differs between the two habitats and as heather-dominated moorland landscapes become more fragmented with the increasing establishment of woodlands, the impact of parasites on the life history strategies of mountain hares needs to be reconsidered.

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