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Vasquez-Hidalgo MA, Swanson KC, Vonnahme KA. Effects of Mid-Gestation Nutrient Restriction, Realimentation, and Parity on the Umbilical Hemodynamics of the Pregnant Ewe. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2022.855345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have reported that nutritional restriction from days 50 to 130 applied in young nulliparous ewes reduces umbilical blood flow (UBF). We hypothesized that during restriction, UBF and fetal and placentome dimensional measurements would decrease compared to adequately fed ewes, but upon realimentation, ewes would have similar UBF as ewes that were not restricted. We also hypothesized that multiparous ewes would be more resilient to nutrient restriction compared to nulliparous ewes. In experiment 1, second-parity Dorset ewes carrying singletons were assigned to an adequate nutrition group (CON, n = 7) or a restricted (60% of CON) group (RES, n = 8), from days 50 to 90 of gestation. In experiment 2, on day 50 of gestation, adult (15-month) nulliparous (NUL; n = 12) and multiparous (MUL; n = 16) Dorset ewes carrying singletons were randomly assigned to receive 100% of NRC recommendations (CON) or 60% of CON (RES). On day 90, all ewes were fed 100% of nutritional recommendations according to body weight. Ewe body weight and conceptus measurements via ultrasonography were recorded every 10 days from days 50 to 130 of gestation. We measured 10 random placentomes, fetal biparietal and abdominal length, and kidney length and width. Doppler mode was used to obtain UBF, pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI). Lamb weight and parturition problems were recorded. In experiment 1, on day 80, UBF decreased (P ≤ 0.05 means separation of unprotected F test), placentome size tended to decrease (P ≤ 0.10), and PI and RI tended to increase in RES vs. CON ewes (P ≤ 0.10). In experiment 2, there were no three-way interactions or main effects of treatments on UBF, PI, RI, and placentome size (P ≥ 0.57). There was a parity-by-day interaction (P < 0.05) for RI, but UBF was not affected by parity or diet. After realimentation, there was no effect of treatment on ultrasound measurements in both experiments. At birth, lambs and placental measurements were not different (P ≥ 0.43). Restriction from days 50 to 90 does not seem to influence umbilical hemodynamics or conceptus growth in adult white face sheep, regardless of parity.
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Cam MA, Garipoglu AV, Kirikci K. Body condition status at mating affects gestation length, offspring yield and return rate in ewes. Arch Anim Breed 2018. [DOI: 10.5194/aab-61-221-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract. The present study was planned to determine the effect of ewe
body condition score (BCS) and parities on fertility, return rate, gestation
length, fecundity, litter size and lamb birth weight. Data were collected
from 284 heads of ewes with first to fifth parity and raised at a state farm
for three consecutive (2002–2004) years. Teaser rams were used to monitor
estrus twice daily in the morning and in the evening from September to
October. BCSs and body weights (BWs) were recorded at mating and postpartum.
The ewes, at mating time in breeding season and within first 6 h after the
expulsion of fetal membranes, were divided into four groups on the basis of
their BCS: thin (BCS = ≤ 2.0; n=70; 38), medium
(BCS = 2.5–3.0; n=122; 142), fat (BCS = 3.5–4.0; n=72; 59) and
very fat (BCS = ≥ 4.5; n= 20;17). BCSs and BWs of ewes at
postpartum were highly correlated with lamb birth weight (R=0.486,
P < 0.01, and R=0.130, P < 0.05, respectively). BCSs and BWs of
ewes at postpartum had positive effects on lamb birth weight
(Y=3.43 ± 0.10 + 0.130 + 0.047 ewe body condition score
(EBCS), P < 0.01;
Y= 2.92 ± 0.42 + 0.018 ± 0.009 ewe body weight
(EBW), P < 0.05 kg of lamb birth weight
per BCS and kilogram of ewe live weight, respectively). The fertility rate,
litter size and fecundity were higher in the medium and fat groups than thin
and very fat groups (χ2= 10.607, P < 0.01). The BW and BCS at
postpartum affected gestation length positively (P < 0.05). Return rate
or number of coitus for conception were higher (P < 0.05) in thin and
very fat groups than medium and fat groups. The data revealed that the ewes
with medium and fat body condition (BCS = 2.5–4.0) scores were
profitable.
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