Journal article
Reproductive capacity of Merino ewes fed a high-salt diet
Animal, Vol.2(9), pp.1353-1360
2008
Abstract
An option to increase the productivity of saline land is to graze sheep on salt-tolerant plants, which, during the summer/autumn period, can contain 20% to 25% of their dry matter as salt. This study assessed the impact of coping with high dietary salt loads on the reproductive performance of grazing ewes. From the time of artificial insemination until parturition, 2-year-old maiden Merino ewes were fed either a high-salt diet (NaCl 13% of dry matter) or control diet (NaCl 0.5% of dry matter). Pregnancy rates, lamb birth weights, milk composition and the plasma concentrations of hormones related to salt and water balance, and energy metabolism were measured. Leptin and insulin concentrations were lower (1.4 ± 0.09 v. 1.5 ± 0.12 ng/ml; (P < 0.05) and 7.2 ± 0.55 v. 8.2 ± 0.83 ng/ml; P < 0.02) in response to high-salt ingestion as was aldosterone concentration (27 ± 2.7 v. 49 ± 5.4 pg/ml; P < 0.05), presumably to achieve salt and water homeostasis. Arginine vasopressin concentration was not significantly affected by the diets, but plasma concentration of T3 differed during gestation (P < 0.02), resulting in lower concentrations in the high-salt group in the first third of gestation (1.2 ± 0.18 v. 1.3 ± 0.14 pmol/ml) and higher concentrations in the final third of gestation (0.8 ± 0.16 v. 0.6 ± 0.06 pmol/ml). T4 concentration was lower in ewes ingesting high salt for the first two-thirds of pregnancy (162 ± 8.6 v. 212 ± 13 ng/ml; P < 0.001). No substantial effects of high salt ingestion on pregnancy rates, lamb birth weights or milk composition were detected.
Details
- Title
- Reproductive capacity of Merino ewes fed a high-salt diet
- Authors/Creators
- S.N. Digby (Author/Creator) - The University of AdelaideD.G. Masters (Author/Creator) - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationD. Blache (Author/Creator) - School of Animal BiologyM.A. Blackberry (Author/Creator) - The University of Western AustraliaP.I. Hynd (Author/Creator) - The University of AdelaideD.K. Revell (Author/Creator) - School of Animal Biology
- Publication Details
- Animal, Vol.2(9), pp.1353-1360
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Identifiers
- 991005543613707891
- Copyright
- © 2008 The Animal Consortium
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.51 Dairy & Animal Sciences
- 3.51.84 Ruminant Nutrition
- Web Of Science research areas
- Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
- Veterinary Sciences
- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science