Pregnancy toxemia (PT) is one of many metabolic disorders that affect pregnant small ruminants. Its etiology has its foundation in the abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and fats, which occurs at the final stage of pregnancy (Edmondson et al 2012). More specifically, this disease is due to a lack of glucose as an energy source, either from poor nutrition, excessive demand from multiple fetuse...

In a first experiment, 2 groups of 46 and 47 multiparous ewes received diets which provided an iodine intake of 0.36 and 0.26 mg/kg dry matter (group C) and, 2.01 and 1.94 mg/kg (group D), respectively, for pregnancy and lactation. In a second experiment, 3 groups of 10 nulliparous ewes received diets which provided an I intake of 0.13 and 0.12 mg/kg dry matter (group A), 0.22 and 0.20 mg/kg dr...

Uterine, umbilical and, by difference, uteroplacental net uptakes of oxygen, glucose, lactate and 3-hydroxybutyrate (uterine uptake only) were measured in single-pregnant ewes which were either well-fed throughout, or severely undernourished for 8-20 d during late pregnancy. All animals were studied while standing at rest and then while walking on a treadmill at 0.7 m/s on a 10 degrees slope fo...

We conducted field and laboratory experiments to evaluate whether treating pregnant bighorn ewes with a combination of an experimental Pasteurella trehalosi and Mannheimia haemolytica (formerly P. haemolytica) vaccine and a commercially-available bovine P. multocida and M. haemolytica vaccine would increase lamb survival following a pneumonia epidemic. Three free-ranging bighorn herds affected ...

A combination of isotope-dilution and arteriovenous-difference techniques was used to determine the significance of ketones to energy homoeostasis in fasted pregnant ewes. 2. There was incomplete interconversion of D(-) 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and acetoacetate (AcAc) and therefore neither entry rate nor oxidation of total ketone bodies could be estimated by assuming circulating ketone bodies re...

The aim of the present study was to test whether serum concentrations of leptin in ewes vary with a daily rhythm. For this purpose, we examined 24 h serum leptin profiles of ewes exposed to natural photoperiodic conditions and subjected to two different feeding schedules (regular feeding and fasting). The results show for the first time the existence of daily rhythm of plasma leptin in regularl...

Aspects of placental protein and energy metabolism were examined in pregnant ewes subjected to either thermoneutral (TN, 18 to 20 degrees C, 30% humidity, n = 7) or hot (H, 30 to 40 degrees C, 40% humidity, n = 5) temperatures through mid and late gestation. Fetal and placental weights and total content of protein, RNA, and DNA were reduced (P less than .001) in H ewes. Placental protein and RN...

Ewes were treated with a medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) sponge for 8 d followed, at sponge removal, with 500 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) at d 30, 40 or 50 (d 0 = lambing) to induce estrus. Dry and lactating ewes were divided into equal numbers at each postpartum day and bred at estrus. Conception rates and number of accessory sperm were determined by flushing the oviducts 3 d ...

The production of colostrum in 3 1 Merino ewes was estimated immediately after parturition. The ewes varied from 2 to 6 years of age. They were of 2 genotypes (Australian Merino Society and Meridale) and all produced single lambs. Ewes were allocated to a supplemented group (1 kg/ewe.day lupins and lush pasture) or unsupplemented group (lush pasture) in the final week of gestation. The suppleme...