Late gestational nutrient restriction: effects on ewes' metabolic and homeorhetic adaptation, consequences for lamb birth weight and lactation performance.
We investigated the effect of 50% nutrient restriction during the last 6 weeks of gestation on twin-pregnant ewes' plasma glucose, non-esterified fatty acid, beta-hydroxybutyrate, insulin, IGF-1 and leptin concentrations and the effects on lamb birth weight and ewes' lactation performance. Plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations in restricted ewes suggest that maternal tissues were being mobilised. Despite the ewes' adaptations their lambs weighed significantly less at birth. Furthermore, colostrum and milk yields were markedly reduced up until the latest measurement at 3 weeks post partum despite ad libitum access to feed. Reduced milk yields coincided with reduced plasma IGF-1 concentration pre partum in nutrient restricted ewes indicating, that mammary gland development may have been compromised. The present data suggest that leptin is not involved in the regulation of early lactation changes in feed intake and energy balance. It is concluded that severely reduced nutrient availability in late gestation affects fetal growth in utero and has a prolonged negative effect on lactation performance.
Tygesen
Malin Plumhoff
MP
Department of Animal and Veterinary Basic Sciences, The Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. mpt@life.ku.dk
Nielsen
Mette Olaf
MO
Nørgaard
Peder
P
Ranvig
Hans
H
Harrison
Adrian Paul
AP
Tauson
Anne-Helene
AH
D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D031204:Caloric Restriction / Q000662:veterinary*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid