Influence of Maternal Factors (Weight, Body Condition, Parity, and Pregnancy Rank) on Plasma Metabolites of Dairy Ewes and Their Lambs

Abstract

Pregnancy and lactation are challenging states that affect maternal and lamb health. In Lacaune dairy sheep, we evaluated the impact of parity, pregnancy rank, and body condition on body weight and the condition of ewes and lambs in mid-pregnancy (75 ± 5 d), in late pregnancy (142 ± 4d), and postpartum (52 ± 5d pp). Maternal age was associated with initial decreases, followed by increases, in body weight and condition. After lambing, both mature and maiden ewes lost weight and body condition. Maternal indices of glucose, protein, and lipid metabolism were within physiological values during pregnancy, but postpartum values depended on maternal parity and pregnancy rank, with multiple-pregnant ewes showing a postpartum increase in glucose and maiden sheep a postpartum increase in plasma cholesterol concentration. Male lambs were heavier than female lambs at birth, and lambs born to mothers with higher body condition scores were heavier. Lambs born as singletons were heavier than those born in litters. Maternal age and pregnancy rank did not influence lamb metabolic indicators. Sex affected plasma concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol. Maternal metabolic indicators showed minimal effects on lamb phenotype. These results suggest that, when appropriately fed, dairy sheep can cover the metabolic demands of pregnancy and milk production, regardless of age and pregnancy rank.

Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Candidate Genes for Litter Size Traits in Pelibuey Sheep

“…More recently, in cow, the CLSTN2 gene was found to play a role related to lipid metabolism, affecting carcass traits [77]. Pensante-Pacheco et al [78] reported that sheep after calving lose weight and body condition, and lambs born alone were heavier than those born in multiparous litters. Therefore, this gene can act in the metabolic pathways, mainly for the accumulation of energy reserves, allowing animals to survive food shortages that can be used by sheep in reproduction, pregnancy, and lactation; these include changes in synaptic inputs onto GnRH neurons, and the neuroendocrine system signal regulates seasonal reproduction [79].…”

Maternal Metabolic Demands Caused by Pregnancy and Lactation: Association with Productivity and Offspring Phenotype in High-Yielding Dairy Ewes

“…The aim of the present study was to assess the metabolic demands during pregnancy and concurrent lactation in high-producing Lacaune dairy sheep and examine the subsequent effects on maternal milk yield, offspring metabolism and body size. This work is closely related to another study in this same Special Issue [22], in which we assessed the effects of maternal body weight, condition, parity, and pregnancy rank on metabolism in ewes and their offspring.…”

“…This work was carried out concurrently with another study published in the same Special Issue of this Journal as two parts of the same project, using the same flock [22]. The study design, animals used, methods for animal handling, measurements of metabolic parameters in ewes and lambs, assessments of postnatal development, and statistical analyses were all performed as described in that work [22].…”

“…This work was carried out concurrently with another study published in the same Special Issue of this Journal as two parts of the same project, using the same flock [22]. The study design, animals used, methods for animal handling, measurements of metabolic parameters in ewes and lambs, assessments of postnatal development, and statistical analyses were all performed as described in that work [22]. Altogether, the study included 527 pregnant ewes (285 mature and 242 maiden), from which 34 were lost from the first mating group and 67 lost from the second group during late pregnancy or parturition because of death (8 ewes), abortion (3), non-pregnancy (7), lambings after the date predicted (3), or an absence of identification of lambs born (80).…”

Evaluating the relationship between fecal egg count, FAMACHA score, and weight in dewormed and non-dewormed Katahdin rams during a parasite challenge

“…Several other studies varying in breed and environment confirm this general trend in body weight in young animals, but vary in magnitude ( Carrillo and Segura, 1993 ; Akpa et al, 2006 ; Stafford et al, 2007 ; Mellado, 2016 ). Some studies propose that birth type primarily influences birth weight and becomes less important as animals age ( Jucá et al, 2016; Pesántez-Pacheco et al, 2019 ).…”