The influence of high dietary protein, energy and mineral intake on deficient young camel (Camelus dromedarius)--I. Changes in metabolic profiles and growth performance.
1. The main forage for camels in northern Djibouti (mangrove with Avicennia marina) is very poor in nitrogen and energy. In a trial, 32 young camels (less than 2 years old) were used in four groups of eight each. 2. All the camels received mangrove as basal diet ad lib. 3. After 1 month, the camels received mineral supplementation in copper and zinc (groups 1 and 3) or/and a concentrate rich in protein and energy (groups 2 and 3) or continued with the basal diet (controls). 4. Any supplementation was stopped after 2 months for 1 month. 5. Growth performance was 550 g/day (concentrate-supplemented camels) and 570 g/day (concentrate+mineral-supplemented camels). 6. The growth was negative for the two others groups (-260 g/day). 7. Food intake of mangrove was slightly more important with mineral supplementation only and with mineral+concentrate supplementation. 8. The changes in metabolic profiles have shown an important catabolism in non-supplemented animals, an increase of urea and free fatty acid concentrations in plasma and a decrease of glucose concentrations. 9. Three camels died in the control group with symptoms of starvation and signs of liver damage (increase of liver enzymes glutamate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl transferase).
Laboratoire d'Eco-Pathologie, Inra Theix, Saint Genès Champanelle, France.
B
B
Faye
G
G
Saint-Martin
R
R
Cherrier
A
A
Ruffa
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002162:Camelus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004435:Eating; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D008903:Minerals; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase