Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T06:25:12.118Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An improved water-bath test to study effects of age and previous sucking on metabolic rate and resistance to cold in newborn lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. Slee ,
S. P. Simpson ,
A. W. Stott ,
J. C. Williams  and
D. E. Samson
J. Slee
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
S. P. Simpson
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
A. W. Stott
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
J. C. Williams
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
D. E. Samson
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
Get access

Abstract

Different procedures for measuring cold resistance and metabolic rate of newborn lambs were evaluated by varying the extent of induced hypothermia, the rate of cooling and the method of rewarming. Relatively fast cooling followed by a simple self-rewarming procedure proved harmless and satisfactory.

The effect of age, from birth up to 2 weeks, on thermoregulation was studied. There was no difference in cold resistance between 0·5 h and 30 h after birth, and between 1 day and 2 weeks after birth, despite a large increase in insulation, body weight and coat depth over this period. Weight-specific resting metabolic rate and cold-induced peak metabolic rate similarly did not change significantly in the first 30 h, although resting metabolic rate tended to be lower at birth than at 30 h of age. Peak metabolic rate decreased significantly between 1 day and 2 weeks of age.

The effect of fasting, for 3 to 4 h after birth, on thermoregulation was also studied. Cold resistance and peak metabolic rate were not significantly affected by fasting. Recovery from hypothermia was slightly slower in fasted lambs.

These results may reflect the newborn lamb's initial reliance on heat production derived from brown fat and non-shivering thermogenesis. Older lambs, which benefit from better insulation, rely more upon shivering. Fasted lambs showed a tendency to rely more on insulation and slightly less on heat production than suckled lambs.

Keywords

hypothermialambsmetabolismsheep breeds
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 50 , Issue 2 , April 1990 , pp. 319 - 331
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1990

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

REFERENCES

Alexander, G. 1962. Temperature regulation in the new-born lamb. V. Summit metabolism. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 13: 100–121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alexander, G. 1964. Lamb survival: physiological considerations. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 5: 113–122.Google Scholar
Alexander, G. 1979. Cold thermogenesis. In Environmental Physiology, III, Vol. 20 (ed. Robertshaw, D.), pp. 143–155. University Park Press, Baltimore.Google Scholar
Alexander, G., Bell, A. W. and Williams, D. 1970. Metabolic response of lambs to cold: effect of prolonged treatment with thyroxine and acclimation to low temperatures. Biology of the Neonate 15: 198–210.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Alexander, G. and Williams, D. 1966. Teat-seeking activity in new-born lambs: the effects of cold. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 67: 181–189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cue, R. 1981. A genetic analysis of lamb mortality in hill sheep. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Cundiff, L. V., Gregory, K. E. and Koch, R. M. 1982. Selection for increased survival from birth to weaning. Proceedings of the 2nd World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Vol. 5, pp. 310–337.Google Scholar
Eales, F. A. and Small, J. 1981. Effects of colostrum on summit metabolic rate in Scottish Blackface lambs at five hours old. Research in Veterinary Science 30: 266–269.Google ScholarPubMed
McCutcheon, S. N., Holmes, C. W., McDonald, M. F. and Rae, A. L. 1983. Resistance to cold stress in the newborn lamb. 1. Responses of Romney, Drysdale × Romney and Merino lambs to components of the thermal environment. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 26: 169–174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mercer, J. 1974. Thermoregulation in the newborn lamb. Ph.D. Thesis, Trinity College, Dublin.Google Scholar
Obst, J. M. and Day, H. R. 1968. The effect of inclement weather on mortality of Merino and Corriedale lambs on Kangaroo Island. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 7: 239–242.Google Scholar
Piper, L. R., Hanrahan, J. P., Evans, R. and Bindon, B. M. 1982. Genetic variation in individual and maternal components of lamb survival in Merinos. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 14: 29–30.Google Scholar
Robinson, J. B., Okamoto, M., Young, B. A. and Christopherson, R. J. 1986. Metabolic rate and rewarming speed of hypothermic neonatal lambs given thermal assistance or added insulation. Animal Production 43: 115–120.Google Scholar
Samson, D. E. 1982. Genetic and physiological aspects of resistance to hypothemia in relation to neonatal lamb survival. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Samson, D. E. and Slee, J. 1981. Factors affecting resistance to induced body cooling in newborn lambs of 10 breeds. Animal Production 33: 59–65.Google Scholar
Shelton, M. and Menzies, J. W. 1970. Repeatability and heritability of components of reproductive efficiency in fine-wool sheep. Journal of Animal Science 30: 1–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Slee, J. 1966. Variation in the responses of shorn sheep to cold exposure. Animal Production 8: 425–434.Google Scholar
Slee, J. 1978. The effects of breed, birthcoat and body weight on cold resistance of newborn lambs. Animal Production 27: 43–49.Google Scholar
Slee, J. 1979. Mortality and resistance to hypothermia in young lambs. In Biometeorological Survey, Vol. IB. (ed. Tromp, S. W. and Bouma, J. J.), pp. 60–65. Heyden, Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Slee, J. 1981. A review of genetic aspects of survival and resistance to cold in newborn lambs. Livestock Production Science 8: 419–429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slee, J. 1985a. Physiological responses and adaptations of sheep. In: Stress Physiology in Livestock. II. Physiological Adaptations and Productivity in Livestock in Cold Environments (ed. Yousef, M. K.), pp. 111–127. CRC Press Inc.Google Scholar
Slee, J. 1985b. Genetic factors affecting cold resistance in relation to neonatal lamb survival. In Factors Affecting the Survival of Newborn Lambs (ed. Alexander, G., Barker, J. D. and Slee, J.), pp. 21–34. Commission for the European Communities, Brussels.Google Scholar
Slee, J. 1987. Cold bioclimates and selected livestock species and breeds: sheep. In World Animal Science Vol. B5 (ed. Johnson, H. D.), pp. 229–244. Elsevier, Amsterdam.Google Scholar
Slee, J., Griffiths, R. G. and Samson, D. E. 1980. Hypothermia in newborn lambs induced by experimental immersion in a water bath and by natural exposure outdoors. Research in Veterinary Science 28: 275–280.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slee, J., Griffiths, R. G., Samson, D. E. and Wilson, S. B. 1979. Testing the cold resistance of newborn lambs. Animal Breeding Research Organisation Report, pp. 39–40.Google Scholar
Slee, J., Simpson, S. P. and Wilson, S. B. 1987. Comparative methods for inducing and measuring non-shivering thermogenesis in newborn lambs. Animal Production 45: 61–67.Google Scholar
Slee, J., Simpson, S. P. and Woolliams, J. A. 1987. Metabolic rate responses to cold and to exogenous noradrenaline in newborn Scottish Blackface lambs genetically selected for high or low resistance to cold. Animal Production 45: 69–74.Google Scholar
Slee, J. and Springbett, A. J. 1986. Early post-natal behaviour in lambs of ten breeds. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 15: 229–240.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slee, J. and Stott, A. W. 1986. Genetic selection for cold resistance in Scottish Blackface lambs. Animal Production 43: 397–404.Google Scholar
Slee, J. and Sykes, A. R. 1967. Acclimatisation of Scottish Blackface sheep to cold. 1. Rectal temperature responses. Animal Production 2: 333–347.Google Scholar
Smith, G. M. 1977. Factors affecting birth weight, dystocia and preweaning survival in sheep. Journal of Animal Science 44: 745–753.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stott, A. W. 1983. Genetic and physiological factors affecting thermoregulation and resistance to body cooling in newborn lambs. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Stott, A. W. 1985. Effect of previous cold exposure on the cold resistance of young lambs. Progress in Biometeorology 2: 59–66.Google Scholar
Stott, A. W. and Slee, J. 1985. The effect of environmental temperature during pregnancy on thermoregulation in the newborn lamb. Animal Production 41: 341–347.Google Scholar
Stott, A. W. and Slee, J. 1987. The effects of litter size, sex, age, body weight, dam age and genetic selection for cold resistance on the physiological responses to cold exposure of Scottish Blackface lambs in a progressively cooled water bath. Animal Production 45: 477–491.Google Scholar
Sykes, A. R. 1968. A study of the variation in response to climatic stress within and between breeds of sheep. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Sykes, A. R., Griffiths, R. G. and Slee, J. 1976. The influence of breed, birthweight and weather on the body temperature of newborn lambs. Animal Production 22: 395–402.Google Scholar
Wiener, G., Deeble, F. K., Broadbent, J. S. and Talbot, M. 1973. Breed variation in lambing performance and lamb mortality in commercial sheep flocks. Animal Production 17: 229–243.Google Scholar