Impact of energy and protein restriction on energy expenditure of gestation in twin-bearing ewes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Impact of energy and protein restriction on energy expenditure of gestation in twin-bearing ewes

AU - Kiani, Alishir

AU - Chwalibog, Andrzej

AU - Tauson, Anne-Helene

AU - Nielsen, Mette Benedicte Olaf

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - This study aimed to investigate the impact of energy and protein restriction on energy expenditure of gestation (EEgest) in twin-bearing ewes. Multiparous twin-bearing ewes were fed either adequate (A: n = 10) or restricted to 60% of energy and protein requirements (R: n = 10) during the last 6 weeks of gestation. Whole-body energy expenditure (EE) and retained energy (RE) were calculated from respiratory gaseous exchange combined with nitrogen balance at 7, 5 and 2 weeks prepartum. Twin lamb birth weight was lower in the R group compared to those in the A group (7.9 ± 0.31 vs 9.3 ± 0.19 kg, P < 0.01). The EEgest was lower in the R group than the A group (4.6 vs 5.9 MJ/day, SE = 0.30, P < 0.01). Between 5 and 2 weeks prepartum, EEgest contribution to the whole-body EE significantly (P < 0.01) increased from 39% to 45% and from 34% to 40% in the A and R groups, respectively. Based on kg conceptus weight, both EEhomeorhetic (from 292 to 270 kJ/kg/day, SE = 6.2, P < 0.001) and EEconceptus (from 259 to 177 kJ/kg/day, SE = 23.8, P < 0.02) decreased between weeks 5 and 2 prepartum. The EEconceptus tended to be lower (P = 0.06) in the R group than the A group both at 5 weeks (219 vs 298 kJ/kg/day, SE = 32.8) and 2 weeks (from 138 to 217 kJ/kg/day, SE = 30.1) prepartum. In conclusion, energy and protein restriction reduced energy expenditure of gestation calculated per kg conceptus weight. The decrease may be associated with energy expenditure of conceptus growth and maintenance.

AB - This study aimed to investigate the impact of energy and protein restriction on energy expenditure of gestation (EEgest) in twin-bearing ewes. Multiparous twin-bearing ewes were fed either adequate (A: n = 10) or restricted to 60% of energy and protein requirements (R: n = 10) during the last 6 weeks of gestation. Whole-body energy expenditure (EE) and retained energy (RE) were calculated from respiratory gaseous exchange combined with nitrogen balance at 7, 5 and 2 weeks prepartum. Twin lamb birth weight was lower in the R group compared to those in the A group (7.9 ± 0.31 vs 9.3 ± 0.19 kg, P < 0.01). The EEgest was lower in the R group than the A group (4.6 vs 5.9 MJ/day, SE = 0.30, P < 0.01). Between 5 and 2 weeks prepartum, EEgest contribution to the whole-body EE significantly (P < 0.01) increased from 39% to 45% and from 34% to 40% in the A and R groups, respectively. Based on kg conceptus weight, both EEhomeorhetic (from 292 to 270 kJ/kg/day, SE = 6.2, P < 0.001) and EEconceptus (from 259 to 177 kJ/kg/day, SE = 23.8, P < 0.02) decreased between weeks 5 and 2 prepartum. The EEconceptus tended to be lower (P = 0.06) in the R group than the A group both at 5 weeks (219 vs 298 kJ/kg/day, SE = 32.8) and 2 weeks (from 138 to 217 kJ/kg/day, SE = 30.1) prepartum. In conclusion, energy and protein restriction reduced energy expenditure of gestation calculated per kg conceptus weight. The decrease may be associated with energy expenditure of conceptus growth and maintenance.

KW - Former LIFE faculty

KW - heat production

KW - maternal feed restriction

KW - ovine

KW - pregnancy

U2 - 10.1111/j.1740-0929.2008.00520.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1740-0929.2008.00520.x

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1344-3941

VL - 79

SP - 218

EP - 225

JO - Animal Science Journal

JF - Animal Science Journal

IS - 2

ER -