The effects of maternal calcium status during late gestation on lamb growth and survival in twin-bearing Merino ewes grazing pasture.

Autor: Munn AL; Davies Livestock Research Centre, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia., Swinbourne A; Turretfield Research Centre, South Australian Research and Development Institute, Rosedale, South Australia, Australia., Brougham BJ; Davies Livestock Research Centre, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia., van Wettere W; Davies Livestock Research Centre, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia., Weaver AC; Turretfield Research Centre, South Australian Research and Development Institute, Rosedale, South Australia, Australia.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Australian veterinary journal [Aust Vet J] 2024 May; Vol. 102 (5), pp. 249-255. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Feb 18.
DOI: 10.1111/avj.13321
Abstrakt: Our project aimed to investigate whether low maternal calcium status during late gestation decreased weight, growth and survival of lambs born to twin-bearing Merino ewes grazing pasture. On day 130 of gestation, approximately a 10 mL blood sample was collected from 108 twin-bearing Merino ewes. Blood pH and calcium ion concentration were measured in whole blood and serum was analysed for calcium, magnesium, phosphate, beta hydroxy butyrate, non-esterified fatty acids and cholesterol. Six to 18 h after birth and at 49 days of age, lamb live weight was recorded. Ewe serum calcium level at day 130 of gestation were divided into tertiles (1.58-2.13, 2.14-2.30, and 2.31-2.99 mmol/L) with ewes classified as either Low, Med or High (n = 36 per group). A general linear mixed model was used to analyse the data. Survival to 1, 2, 3 and 7 days of age was lower for lambs born to ewes in the Low calcium group compared with those born in the Med and High calcium groups (P < 0.05). At day 49 of age, lamb survival tended to be lower for lambs in the Low (73.6%) compared with Med (86.8%) and High (85.3%) calcium groups (P < 0.1). There were no differences in lamb body weight (P > 0.05). Calcium levels of ewes in the Low calcium group were, on average, indicative of subclinical hypocalcaemia, with this group of ewes also having the lowest lamb survival rate, suggesting that maternal subclinical hypocalcaemia reduces lamb survival. Further studies, particularly on improving maternal calcium levels, are warranted.
(© 2024 The Authors. Australian Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Veterinary Association.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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