Measurement of the milk intake of reindeer and caribou calves using tritiated water

McEwan, E. H.; Whitehead, P. E.

doi:10.1139/z71-068

Cited by 49 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Serum thyroxine (Tt), alkaline phosphatase (SAP), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and blood glucose in calves were high during summer and autumn in present studies indicating very rapid growth. The maximum rate of live weight gain in the reindeer occurs at time of weaning giving an excess of 0.3-0.4 kg/day (Krebs & Cowan 1962, McEwan & Whitehead 1971 which is in accordance with the results in Finnish reindeer (Nieminen et al 1980a). The SAP activity of the reindeer calves was in February at the same level as in the adult hinds, which indicates a cessation of growth during the winter months.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…During the long winter the main part of the food intake consists of lichens containing mainly carbohydrates. Although the growing reindeer foetus almost triples its weight during the six weeks before parturition , at the same time the energy demand of the hind increases by only 15 % (McEwan & Whitehead 1971). The food protein requirements is therefore reduced, and the requirement caused by metabolism, movement or maintenance of body temperature is satisfied by carbohydrates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reindeer, like other northern ungulates, undergo seasonal physiological changes which adapt them to the annual variations in ambient conditions. The result is a cycle with highest metabolic demands in the spring and early summer suited to rapid growth and the high nutritive quality of vegetation (Steen 1968, Klein 1970, Nieminen 1980a as expressed by the growth of calves (McEwan & Whitehead 1971, Ryg & Jacobsen 1982 and antler growth, recovery from the rigors of winter and lactation in females (White 1975, McEwan et al 1976). The most critical period for the semi-domestic reindeer in Finland is usually late winter and early spring, and in recent years large numbers of reindeer have died of starvation, because of particularly bad conditions .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Blood composition of the reindeer . II. Blood chemistry

Nieminen¹,

Timisjärvi²

1983

Ran

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The blood chemical composition of 578 semi-domestic reindeer were investigated in respect to age, season, calving and nutrition in Northern Finland during 1973-79. The weight gain was maximally 400 g/day at an age of 4-8 weeks as also reflected by high serum thyroxine (T4), alkaline phosphatase (SAP), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and blood glucose values. Low SAP activity in winter indicated a cessation of growth. The pH of the venous blood was 7.35 and the clotting activity very high (21 sec, 100 %) in summer and autumn. 15 protein bands and 15 fatty acids were discernible in reindeer serum. The total serum protein was 58 g/1 in the 20-day-old calf and 87 g/1 in adult hind in the autumn, the difference being caused by changes in globulins. The neonatal fluctuation of immunoglobulins suggests that the calf acquires its passive immunity soon after birth by the intestinal absorption of proteins and that its endogenous synthesis of gamma globulins begins in the 4th week of life. The serum total lipids (2.9 g/1), triglycerides (0.29 mmol/1) and cholesterol (1.6 mmol/1) were low in newborn calves and reached their adult levels at the age of 5 months (average 5.1 g/1, 0.4 mmol/1, 2.7 mmol/1, respectively). The young calves had higher serum cholesterol, total and free fatty acid, myristic acid and palmitic acid, but lower stearic and oleic acid values than adult hinds. The reindeer calf liberates considerable amounts of catecholamines during the first days after birth, but the postpartum dopamine-B-hydroxylase activity was rather low. The means of blood glucose (3.4-4.6 mmol/1), total serum proteins (63 - 87 g/1), albumin (39 - 43 g/1), total globulins (23 - 44 g/1), urea (5.7-9 mmol/1), total lipids (2.7 - 5.2 g/1), triglycerides (0.17 - 0.33 mmol/1), total fatty acids (0.89 - 1.54 g/1), calcium (2.2 - 2.6 mmol/1), inorganic phosphorus (1.6 - 2.2 mmol/1), magnesium (0.8 - 1.2 mmol/1) and copper (6.7 - 18 |Jmol/l) of free-grazing adult hinds were highest in summer and autumn and decreased during winter. The lowest means were measured for the starved hinds in early spring. The high serum urea and CPK, LDH and SAP activities reflected catabolism of the body proteins and tissue breakdown during starvation. Season and nutrition did not affect serum T4, creatinine, sodium and chloride values. High body weight and blood chemical values were measured for the hinds fed on silage and molasses in winter.

Poron veri. II. Veren kemia.

Abstract in Finnish / Yhteenveto: 578 puolivillin poron veren kemiallista koostumusta tutkittiin iån, vuodenajan, vasonnan ja ravitsemustilan suhteen vuosina 1973-79. Painon lisays oli suurimmillaan 400 g/vrk 4-8 viikon iassa ja sita kuvastivat myos korkeat seerumin tyroksiinin (T4), alkaalisen fosfataasin (SAP), kreatiinifosfokinaasin (CPK) ja veren sokerin arvot. Alhainen SAP aktiivisuus talvella osoitti kasvun pysahtymistå. Laskimoveren pH oli 7.35 ja veren hyytymiskyky (21 sek, 100 %) erittåin hyvå kesålla ja syksylla. Seerumista erotettiin 15 eri valku...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Blood composition of the reindeer . II. Blood chemistry

Nieminen¹,

Timisjärvi²

1983

Ran

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Poron veri. II. Veren kemia.

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“…During the first part of pregnancy the energy demand is only slightly higher compared to that of barren females, but increases progressively toward the end of gestation (May r nard and Loosli 1962). In reindeer the maternal energy demand during the last 6 weeks of gestation increases, on the average, by about 15% (McEwan 1970, McEwan and Whitehead 1971, Rome 1974. Preobrazhenski (1961 estimated that an additional 30 kg of lichen was necessary for the growth of the fetus to termination.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of food and maternal conditions in fetal growth and size in wild reindeer

Skogland

1984

Ran

108

118

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Effekter av ernaering og simlas kondisjon på vekst og størrelse av foster hos villrein.TERJE SKOGLAND, DVF, Viltforskningen, Tungasletta 2, N-7000 Trondheim, Norway. Abstract: Fetal growth rates and birth weights were studied in four wild reindeer areas in Southern Norway (Hardangervidda, Hallingskarvet, Knutshø, Forelhogna), representing high and low density populations, with a 5-fold difference in mean lichen winter-food availability. Fetal growth was depressed by 42% in the high-densitv Hardangervidda population, and mean birth weights were 3.7 vs. 6.2 kg, with a 10 days difference in mean birth dates. Fetal size was better correlated with maternal weight, than age. Maternal weights increased until 5 yrs. of age and then decreased in the high-density Hardangervidda population (but not so in the low density Knutshø-Forclhogna populations). 55% of the offspring died before weaning in the Hardangervidda herd, but no significant calf losses were found amont the large-sized does in the food-abundant areas. Sammendrag: Fostervekst og fødselsvekter ble undersøkt i fire villreinområder i Sør-Norge (Hardangervidda, Hallingskarvet, Knutshø og Forelhogna) som representerer høg-og lågtetthetsstammer, med en 5-foldig forskjell i gjennomsnittlig lavbeite-tilgang om vinteren. Fosterveksten ble nedsatt med 42% i høgtetthetsstammen på Hardangervidda og fødselsvektene var i gjennomsnitt 3,7 kg, mot 6,2 kg i det beste området, og med en 10 dagers forsinkelse i midlere fødselsdato. Fosterets størrelse var korrelert med morens vekt, som igjen var avhengig av hennes alder. Hos de minste simlene i det dårligste området økte vektene til 5-års alder, for deretter å avta for hvert gjenlevende år. Hos simlene i det beste området økte vektene til 10-års alder, og var da dobbelt så tunge som fra det dårligste området. 55% av avkommet døde før de var avvent med diing hos Hardangervidda-simlene, mens det ikke var noen statistisk målbar dødelighet hos kalvene i Knutshø-Forelhogna. Ybteenveto: Etelå-Norjan neljallå peura-alueella, jotka ovat Hardangervidda, Hallingskarvet, Knutsho ja Forelhogna, tutkittiin porosikion kasvua ja syntymåpainoja. Alueet edustavat ylintå ja alinta tiheyskantaa ja loytyy 5-kertainen eroavaisuus keskimåarin jåkålålaiduntaan talvisaikaan. Sikion kasvu aleni 42% ylemmåsså tiheyskannassa Hardangervidda-alueella ja syntymåpainot olivat keskimåarin 3,7 kg mutta 6,2 kg parhaimmalla alueella, ja 10 påivån myohastyminen keskimååråisesta syntymåpåivayksestå. Sikion suuruus oli vastaavuussuhteessa emon painoon, joka oli taas riippuvainen sen iåstå. Huonoimmalla alueella pieninpien naaraiden painot lisåantyivåt 5-ikåvuoteen asti, vahetåkseen sen jålkeen jokaista jåljellåolevaa elovuotta kohden. Parhaimmalla alueella naaraiden painot lisåantyivåt 10-ikåvuoteen asti, ja oli silloin kaksi kertaa niin raskaita kuin huonoimman alueen naarasporot. 55% jålkelåisistå kuoli ennenkuin ne olivat vierottuneet Hardangervidda-naarasporoista. Sitåvastoin ei ollut mitåån tilastollisesti mitattavissa olevaa Knutsho -Forelhogna-alueiden vasaku...

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“…Both are widely accepted and yield fair estimates of milk yield, yet each has disadvantages. Isotope dilution is used to estimate milk consumption and production in many species (Pettitgrew et al, 1985;Oftedal et al, 1983), including ruminants (Dove and Freer, 1979;McEwan and Whitehead, 1971 In cattle, previous research in isotope dilution used tritiated water (Dove and Axelson, 1979). No studies in cattle, however, compare the dilution method to standard milk estimation techniques.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Relation of growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing hormone to estimation of milk production via deuterium oxide dilution in beef cattle1

Auchtung

Baer²,

Erdman

et al. 2002

Journal of Animal Science

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Current methods of estimating milk production in beef cows can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and subject to high variability. The weigh-suckle-weigh (WSW) method requires repeated separation of offspring from their dams. Machine milking requires that animals be acclimated to the equipment prior to the estimation. The objective of Exp. 1 was to validate a deuterium oxide (D2O) dilution method of estimating milk production in cattle. In Exp. 1, Holstein calves (n = 5) averaging 29+/-2 d of age and 52.6+/-2.5 kg (+/- SE) were used as the model. Blood was collected for baseline D2O measurements followed by an injection of 300 mg D2O/kg BW. Syringes were weighed before and after the injection to gravimetrically determine the dose. Another blood sample was collected after D2O was allowed to equilibrate with body water for 2 h, and on each of the next five consecutive days, prior to feeding. Actual milk intake was measured by disappearance (i.e., amount of milk replacer offered to the calf minus the amount refused). Deuterium oxide in plasma was measured by mass spectrometry and milk intake was computed from the disappearance curve of D2O in blood plasma for each calf. Accumulated milk intake estimated by D2O dilution was highly correlated (y = 0.9x + 0.6; R2 = 0.99; P < 0.001) with actual milk intake. The objectives of Exp. 2 were to determine whether 1) D2O dilution was comparable to a standard measure of milk production in beef heifers and 2) growth hormone (GH) response to GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) in heifers at weaning is predictive of subsequent milk production. Deuterium oxide dilution and WSW were compared using 14 first-calf Angus heifers and their calves. Deuterium oxide dilution was used to estimate milk production of 40 first-calf Angus heifers that had been challenged with GHRH at weaning. Results indicate that the D2O dilution method is correlated (R2 = 0.89; P = 0.04) to the WSW estimation of milk production. Growth hormone response to GHRH in weanling heifers is positively related (R2 = 0.22; P = 0.03) to their subsequent milk production. Deuterium oxide dilution in calves offers an additional approach to the estimation of milk production of the dam in typical beef cattle production settings.

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Measurement of the milk intake of reindeer and caribou calves using tritiated water

Cited by 49 publications

References 22 publications

Blood composition of the reindeer . II. Blood chemistry

Blood composition of the reindeer . II. Blood chemistry

The effects of food and maternal conditions in fetal growth and size in wild reindeer

Relation of growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing hormone to estimation of milk production via deuterium oxide dilution in beef cattle1

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