Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T16:07:34.630Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Feed deprivation in Merino and Terminal sired lambs: (1) the metabolic response under resting conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 November 2018

S. M. Stewart ,
P. McGilchrist ,
G. E. Gardner  and
D. W. Pethick
S. M. Stewart*
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary & Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Western Australia 6150, Australia
P. McGilchrist
Affiliation:
School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, New South Wales, 2351, Australia
G. E. Gardner
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary & Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Western Australia 6150, Australia
D. W. Pethick
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary & Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Western Australia 6150, Australia
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the metabolic response to feed deprivation up to 48 h in low and high yielding lamb genotypes. It was hypothesised that Terminal sired lambs would have decreased plasma glucose and increased plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHOB) concentrations in response to feed deprivation compared to Merino sired lambs. In addition, it was hypothesised that the metabolic changes due to feed deprivation would also be greater in progeny of sires with breeding values for greater growth, muscling and leanness. Eighty nine lambs (45 ewes, 44 wethers) from Merino dams with Merino or Terminal sires with a range in Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) for post-weaning weight (PWT), post-weaning eye muscle depth and post-weaning fat depth (PFAT) were used in this experiment. Blood samples were collected via jugular cannulas every 6 h from time 0 to 48 h of feed deprivation for the determination of plasma glucose, NEFA, BHOB and lactate concentration. From 12 to 48 h of feed deprivation plasma glucose concentration decreased (P < 0.05) by 25% from 4.04 ± 0.032 mmol/l to 3.04 ± 0.032 mmol/l. From 6 h NEFA concentration increased (P < 0.05) from 0.15 ± 0.021 mmol/l by almost 10-fold to 1.34 ± 0.021 mmol/l at 48 h of feed deprivation. Feed deprivation also influenced BHOB concentrations and from 12 to 48 h it increased (P < 0.05) from 0.15 ± 0.010 mmol/l to 0.52 ± 0.010 mmol/l. Merino sired lambs had a 8% greater reduction in glucose and 29% and 10% higher NEFA and BHOB response, respectively, compared to Terminal sired lambs (P < 0.05). In Merino sired lambs, increasing PWT was also associated with an increase in glucose and decline in NEFA and BHOB concentration (P < 0.05). In Terminal sired lambs, increasing PFAT was associated with an increase in glucose and decline in NEFA concentration (P < 0.05). Contrary to the hypothesis, Merino sired lambs showed the greatest metabolic response to fasting especially in regards to fat metabolism.

Keywords

lipolysisketogenesisnutritional restrictionnegative energy balancegrowth
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 13 , Issue 7 , July 2019 , pp. 1458 - 1467
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adams, N, Blache, D and Briegel, J 2002. Feed intake, live weight and wool growth rate in Merino sheep with different responsiveness to low-or high-quality feed. Animal Production Science 42, 399–405.Google Scholar
Anderson, F, Williams, A, Pannier, L, Pethick, DW and Gardner, GE 2015. Sire carcass breeding values affect body composition in lambs — 1. Effects on lean weight and its distribution within the carcass as measured by computed tomography. Meat Science 108, 145–154.Google Scholar
Bass, JJ and Dugnazich, DM 1980. A note on effect of starvation on the bovine alimentary tract and its contents. Animal Production 31, 111–113.Google Scholar
Bergman, E 1971. Hyperketonemia - ketogenesis and ketone body metabolism. Journal of Dairy Science 54, 936–948.Google Scholar
Bergman, E 1990. Energy contributions of volatile fatty acids from the gastrointestinal tract in various species. Physiological Reviews 70, 567–590.Google Scholar
Bergman, E, Starr, DJ and Reulein, S 1968. Glycerol metabolism and gluconeogenesis in the normal and hypoglycemic ketonic sheep. American Journal of Physiology--Legacy Content 215, 874–880.Google Scholar
Blumer, S, Gardner, G, Ferguson, M and Thompson, A 2013. Live weight loss in adult ewes is affected by their sires breeding values for fat and muscle. In Proceedings of the 20th Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Translating Science into Action, Napier, New Zealand, 20–23 October 2013, pp. 311–314.Google Scholar
Blumer, S, Gardner, G, Ferguson, M and Thompson, A 2016. Environmental and genetic factors influence the live weight of adult Merino and Border Leicester x Merino ewes across multiple sites and years. Animal Production Science 56, 775–788.Google Scholar
Bremmers, R, Morgan, P, McCutcheon, S and Purchas, R 1988. Effect of plane of nutrition on energy and nitrogen retention and on plasma urea concentrations in Southdown ram hoggets from high and low backfat selection lines. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 31, 1–7.Google Scholar
Cameron, N 1992. Correlated physiological responses to selection for carcass lean content in sheep. Livestock Production Science 30, 53–68.Google Scholar
Carter, M, McCutcheon, S and Purchas, R 1989. Plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations as predictors of genetic merit for lean meat production in sheep: effects of metabolic challenges and fasting. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 32, 343–353.Google Scholar
Chilliard, Y, Ferlay, A, Faulconnier, Y, Bonnet, M, Rouel, J and Bocquier, F 2000. Adipose tissue metabolism and its role in adaptations to undernutrition in ruminants. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 59, 127–134.Google Scholar
Daly, BL, Gardner, GE, Ferguson, DM and Thompson, JM 2006. The effect of time off feed prior to slaughter on muscle glycogen metabolism and rate of pH decline in three different muscles of stimulated and non-stimulated sheep carcasses. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57, 1229–1235.Google Scholar
Ferguson, D and Warner, R 2008. Have we underestimated the impact of pre-slaughter stress on meat quality in ruminants? Meat Science 80, 12–19.Google Scholar
Fogarty, NM, Banks, RG, van de Werf, JHJ, Ball, AJ and Gibson, JP 2007. The information nucleus – a new concept to enhance sheep industry genetic improvement. In Proceedings of the 17th Association for Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 6–12 April 2007, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia, pp. 29–32.Google Scholar
Foot, JZ and Russel, A 1979. The relationship in ewes between voluntary food intake during pregnancy and forage intake during lactation and after weaning. Animal Production 28, 25–39.Google Scholar
Gardner, G, Kennedy, L, Milton, J and Pethick, D 1999. Glycogen metabolism and ultimate pH of muscle in Merino, first-cross, and second-cross wether lambs as affected by stress before slaughter. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 50, 175–182.Google Scholar
Graham, NM, Searle, TW and Griffiths, DA 1974. Basal metabolic rate in lambs and young sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 25, 957–951.Google Scholar
Greenwood, P, Gardner, G and Hegarty, R 2006. Lamb myofibre characteristics are influenced by sire estimated breeding values and pastoral nutritional system. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57, 627–639.Google Scholar
Heitmann, R and Bergman, E 1980. Integration of amino acid metabolism in sheep: effects of fasting and acidosis. The American Journal of Physiology 239, E248.Google Scholar
Heitmann, RN, Dawes, DJ and Sensenig, SC 1987. Hepatic ketogenesis and peripheral ketone body utilisation in the ruminant. The Journal of Nutrition 117, 1174–1180.Google Scholar
Hocquette, JF, Ortigues-Marty, I, Pethick, D, Herpin, P and Fernandez, X 1998. Nutritional and hormonal regulation of energy metabolism in skeletal muscles of meat-producing animals. Livestock Production Science 56, 115–143.Google Scholar
Holness, MJ and Sugden, MC 1989. Pyruvate dehydrogenase activities during the fed-to-starved transition and on re-feeding after acute or prolonged starvation. Biochemical Journal 258, 529–533.Google Scholar
Jacob, R, Pethick, D and Chapman, H 2005. Muscle glycogen concentrations in commercial consignments of Australian lamb measured on farm and post-slaughter after three different lairage periods. Animal Production Science 45, 543–552.Google Scholar
Jacob, RH, Gardner, GE and Pethick, DW 2009. Repletion of glycogen in muscle is preceded by repletion of glycogen in the liver of Merino hoggets. Animal Production Science 49, 131–138.Google Scholar
Kolstad, K and Vangen, O 1996. Breed differences in maintenance requirements of growing pigs when accounting for changes in body composition. Livestock Production Science 47, 23–32.Google Scholar
Martin, K, McGilchrist, P, Thompson, J and Gardner, G 2011. Progeny of high muscling sires have reduced muscle response to adrenaline in sheep. Animal 5, 1060–1070.Google Scholar
McGilchrist, P, Pethick, DW, Bonny, SPF, Greenwood, PL and Gardner, GE 2011. Beef cattle selected for increased muscularity have a reduced muscle response and increased adipose tissue response to adrenaline. Animal 5, 875–884.Google Scholar
Oddy, V, Herd, R, McDonagh, M, Woodgate, R, Quinn, C and Zirkler, K 1998. Effect of divergent selection for yearling growth rate on protein metabolism in hind-limb muscle and whole body of Angus cattle. Livestock Production Science 56, 225–231.Google Scholar
Oddy, V, Lindsay, D, Barker, P and Northrop, A 1987. Effect of insulin on hind-limb and whole-body leucine and protein metabolism in fed and fasted lambs. British Journal of Nutrition 58, 437–452.Google Scholar
Oddy, V, Speck, P, Warren, H and Wynn, P 1995. Protein metabolism in lambs from lines divergently selected for weaning weight. The Journal of Agricultural Science 124, 129–137.Google Scholar
Pethick, D, Harper, G and Dunshea, F 2005. Fat metabolism and turnover. In Quantitative aspects of ruminant digestion and metabolism (ed. JM Forbes and J Dijkstra), pp. 345–371. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.Google Scholar
Pethick, D, Miller, C and Harman, N 1991. Exercise in Merino sheep dash the relationships between work intensity, endurance, anaerobic threshold and glucose metabolism. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 42, 599–620.Google Scholar
Reid, R and Hinks, N 1962. Studies on the carbohydrate metabolism of sheep. XIX. The metabolism of glucose, free fatty acids, and ketones after feeding and during fasting or undernourishment of non-pregnant, pregnant, and lactating ewes. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 13, 1124–1136.Google Scholar
Stewart, SM, McGilchrist, P, Gardner, GE and Pethick, DW 2014. Concentrations of NEFA, lactate and glucose in lambs are different to cattle at slaughter. In Proceedings of the 65th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Animal Production, 25–28 August 2014, Copenhagen, Denmark, 228 pp.Google Scholar
Stewart, SM, McGilchrist, P, Gardner, GE and Pethick, DW 2018. Feed deprivation in Merino and terminal sired lambs (2) the metabolic response under commercial conditions and impact on meat quality and yield. Animal, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731118002975.Google Scholar
Thompson, JM, O’Halloran, WJ, McNeill, DMJ, Jackson-Hope, NJ and May, TJ 1987. The effect of fasting on live weight and carcass characteristics in lambs. Meat Science 20, 293–309.Google Scholar
Usui, C, Takahashi, E, Gando, Y, Sanada, K, Oka, J, Miyachi, M, Tabata, I and Higuchi, M 2009. Resting energy expenditure can be assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in women regardless of age and fitness. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 63, 529–535.Google Scholar
van de Werf, JHJ, Kinghorn, B and Banks, RG 2010. Design and role of an information nucleus in sheep breeding programs. Animal Production Science 50, 998–1003.Google Scholar
Van Maanen, M, McCutcheon, S and Purchas, R 1989. Plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations in Southdown ram hoggets from lines divergently selected on the basis of backfat thickness. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 32, 219–226.Google Scholar
Wang, Z, Ying, Z, Bosy-Westphal, A, Zhang, J, Schautz, B, Later, W, Heymsfield, SB and Müller, MJ 2010. Specific metabolic rates of major organs and tissues across adulthood: evaluation by mechanistic model of resting energy expenditure. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 92, 1369–1377.Google Scholar
Webster, AF 1981. The energetic efficiency of metabolism. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 40, 121–128.Google Scholar