Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T08:30:47.978Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reproductive capacity of Merino ewes fed a high-salt diet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2008

S. N. Digby ,
D. G. Masters ,
D. Blache ,
M. A. Blackberry ,
P. I. Hynd  and
D. K. Revell
S. N. Digby*
Affiliation:
Discipline of Agricultural and Animal Science, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre M081, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
D. G. Masters
Affiliation:
CSIRO Livestock Industries, Private Bag 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre M081, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
D. Blache
Affiliation:
School of Animal Biology M085, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre M081, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
M. A. Blackberry
Affiliation:
School of Animal Biology M085, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
P. I. Hynd
Affiliation:
Discipline of Agricultural and Animal Science, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia
D. K. Revell
Affiliation:
Discipline of Agricultural and Animal Science, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia CSIRO Livestock Industries, Private Bag 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre M081, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
*
E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

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.

Keywords

aldosteronehigh saltinsulinleptinreproduction
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 2 , Issue 9 , September 2008 , pp. 1353 - 1360
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2008

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

Abu-Zanat, MMW, Tabbaa, MJ 2006. Effect of feeding Atriplex browse to lactating ewes on milk yield and growth rate of their lambs. Small Ruminant Research 64, 152–161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arieli, ML, Naim, E, Benjamin, RW, Pasternak, D 1989. The effect of feeding saltbush and sodium chloride on energy metabolism in sheep. Animal Production 49, 451–457.Google Scholar
Bell, RJ, Laurence, BM, Meehan, PJ, Congiu, M, Scoggins, BA, Wintour, EM 1986. Regulation and function of arginine vasopressin in pregnant sheep. American Journal of Physiology – Renal Physiology 250, F777–F780.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bencini R 1999. Development of specialty sheep milk dairy products – increasing the market scope. A report for The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. RIRDC publ. No 99/69.Google Scholar
Bencini, R, Purvis, IW 1990. The yield and composition of milk from Merino sheep. Wool Technology and Sheep Breeding 38, 71–73.Google Scholar
Blache, D, Tellam, RL, Chagas, LM, Blackberry, MA, Vercoe, PE, Martin, GB 2000. Level of nutrition affects leptin concentrations in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in sheep. Journal of Endocrinology 165, 625–637.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blache, D, Grandison, MJ, Masters, DG, Dynes, RA, Blackberry, MA, Martin, GA 2007. Relationships between metabolic endocrine systems and voluntary feed intake in Merino sheep fed a high salt diet. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47, 544–550.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chagas, LM, Rhodes, FM, Blache, D, Gore, PJS, Macdonald, KA, Verkerk, GA 2006. Precalving effects on metabolic responses and postpartum anestrus in grazing primiparous dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 1981–1989.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chilliard, Y, Delavaud, C, Bonnet, M 2005. Leptin expression in ruminants: nutritional and physiological regulations in relation with energy metabolism. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 29, 3–22.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
JrCowley, AW, Skelton, MM, Merrill, DC 1986. Osmoregulation during high salt intake: relative importance of drinking and vasopressin secretion. American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 251, R878–R886.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Curtis, KS, Krause, EG, Wong, DL, Contreras, RJ 2004. Gestational and early postnatal dietary NaCl levels affect NaCl intake, but not stimulated water intake, by adult rats. American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 286, R1043–R1050.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
da Silva, AA, de Noronha, IL, de Oliveira, IB, Malheiros, DM, Heimann, JC 2003. Renin angiotensin system function and blood pressure in adult rats after perinatal salt overload. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease 13, 133–139.Google ScholarPubMed
Dahlquist, RL, Knoll, JW 1978. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry: analysis of biological material and soils for major, trace and ultra-trace elements. Applied Spectroscopy 32, 1–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davison, JM, Lindheimer, MD 1989. Volume homeostasis and osmoregulation in human pregnancy. Baillieres Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 3, 451–472.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dawson, A, Deeming, DC, Dick, AC, Sharp, PJ 1996. Plasma thyroxine concentrations in farmed ostriches in relation to age, body weight, and growth hormone. General and Comparative Endocrinology 103, 308–315.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gales, NJ, Williamson, P, Higgins, LV, Blackberry, MA, James, I 1997. Evidence for a prolonged postimplantation period in the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 111, 159–163.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ghassemi, F, Jakeman, AJ, Nix, HA 1995. Salinisation of Land and Water Resources. CAB International Publishing, Wallingford, UK.Google Scholar
Goodfriend, TL, Ball, DL, Weinberger, MH, Moore, TJ, Weder, AB, Egan, BM 1991. Salt loads raise plasma fatty acids and lower insulin. Hypertension 17, 958–964.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greenwood, FC, Hunter, WH 1963. The preparation of 131I-labelled human growth hormone of high specific radioactivity. Biochemical Journal 89, 114–123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hamilton, JA, Webster, MED 1987. Food intake, water intake, urine output, growth rate and wool growth of lambs accustomed to high or low intake of sodium chloride. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 38, 187–194.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hardie, L, Trayhurn, P, Abramovich, D, Fowler, P 1997. Circulating leptin in women: a longitudinal study in the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. Clinical Endocrinology 47, 101–106.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hemsley, JA, Hogan, JP, Weston, RH 1975. Effect of high intakes of sodium chloride on the utilisation of a protein concentrate by sheep. II. Digestion and absorption of organic matter and electrolytes. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 26, 715–727.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
James, VHT, Wilson, GA 1976. Determination of aldosterone in biological fluids. In Assay of Drugs and Other Trace Compounds in Biological Fluids (ed. E Reid), pp. 149–158. Elsevier Publishing, Amsterdam.Google Scholar
Lindheimer, MD, Davison, JM 1995. Osmoregulation, the secretion of arginine vasopressin and its metabolism during pregnancy. European Journal of Endocrinology 132, 133–143.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lindheimer, MD, Barron, WM, Davison, JM 1989. Osmoregulation of thirst and vasopressin release in pregnancy. American Journal of Physiology – Renal Physiology 257, F159–F169.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Masters, DG, Mata, G 1996. Responses to feeding canola meal or lupin seed to pregnant, lactating, and dry ewes. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 47, 1291–1303.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Masters, DG, Rintoul, AJ, Dynes, RA, Pearce, KL, Norman, HC 2005. Feed intake and production in sheep fed diets high in sodium and potassium. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56, 427–434.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Masters, DG, Edwards, N, Sillence, M, Avery, A, Revell, D, Friend, M, Sanford, P, Saul, G, Beverly, C, Young, J 2006. The role of livestock in the management of dryland salinity. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, 733–741.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Masters, DG, Benes, SE, Norman, HC 2007. Biosaline agriculture for forage and livestock production. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 119, 234–248.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McDonald, P, Edwards, RA, Greenhalgh, JFD, Morgan, CA 1995. Animal Nutrition. Addison Wesly Longman, Singapore.Google Scholar
Meintjes, RA, Olivier, R 1992. The effects of salt loading via two different routes on feed intake, body water turnover rate and electrolyte excretion in sheep. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 59, 91–96.Google ScholarPubMed
Miller, DW, Blache, D, Martin, GB 1995. The role of intracerebral insulin in the effect of nutrition on gonadotrophin secretion in mature male sheep. Journal of Endocrinology 147, 321–329.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mohamed, MO, Phillips, CJC 2003. The effect of increasing salt intake of pregnant dairy cows on the salt appetite and growth of their calves. Animal Science 77, 181–185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norman, HC, Dynes, RA, Masters, DG 2002. Nutritive value of plants growing on saline land. In Productive use and rehabilitation of saline land, 8th National Conference, pp. 59–69. Promaco Conventions Pty Ltd, Fremantle, Australia.Google Scholar
Olsson, K, Mengistu, U, Stein, J, Bekele, T, Bruckmaier, RM 2006. Hypertonic NaCl infusions affect milk composition in goats. Journal of Dairy Research 73, 306–311.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rice, GE 1982. Plasma arginine vasotocin concentration in the lizard Varanus gouldii (Gray) following water loading, salt loading, and dehydration. General and Comparative Endocrinology 47, 1–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomas DT, 2006. Using stable carbon isotopes to measure diet selection in sheep grazing saltland pastures. 6th Biennial Conference of the Australian Society of Animal Production in Australia, Short communication number 61.Google Scholar
Tindal, JS, Knaggs, GS, Hart, IC, Blake, LA 1978. Release of growth hormone in lactating and non-lactating goats in relation to behaviour, stages of sleep, electroencephalograms, environmental stimuli and levels of prolactin, insulin, glucose and fee fatty acids in the circulation. Journal of Endocrinology 76, 333–346.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warren, BE, Casson, T, Barrett-Lennard, E 1995. Value of saltbush questioned. Western Australia Journal of Agriculture 36, 24–27.Google Scholar
Woods, SC, Benoit, SC, Clegg, DJ, Seeley, RJ 2004. Regulation of energy homeostasis by peripheral signals. Best Practice and Research Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 18, 497–515.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zhang, S, Blache, D, Blackberry, MA, Martin, GB 2005. Body reserves affect the reproductive endocrine responses to an acute change in nutrition in mature male sheep. Animal Reproduction Science 88, 257–269.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zimmermann-Belsing, T, Brabant, G, Holst, JJ, Feldt-Rasmussen, U 2003. Circulating leptin and thyroid dysfunction. European Journal of Endocrinology 149, 257–271.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed