Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T01:36:18.166Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effects of ‘adequate’ and ‘low’ sodium intake on reproductive performance of Scottish Blackface ewes and growth of their lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Isobel C. Vincent ,
H. Ll. Williams ,
A. R. Michell  and
R. Hill
Isobel C. Vincent
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Health and Production, Royal Veterinary College, Boltons Park, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire
H. Ll. Williams
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Health and Production, Royal Veterinary College, Boltons Park, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire
A. R. Michell
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Health and Production, Royal Veterinary College, Boltons Park, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire
R. Hill
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Health and Production, Royal Veterinary College, Boltons Park, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

A low sodium diet was given to Scottish Blackface ewes over two reproductive seasons. It provided a total of 3–7 mmol sodium per day, except during lactation when the intake was about 11 mmol sodium per day. Control ewes were given the same diet supplemented with sodium chloride to Agricultural Research Council recommended concentration which was about ten times greater than that in the experimental diet.

The ewes remained clinically healthy throughout the experiment. The length of gestation and the birth weight of lambs were unaffected by diet. The number of lambs born alive per ewe lambing was unaffected by year or diet.

The percentage of ewes producing twins was similar in control ewes in both years at about 64; in treatment ewes this was 70% in year 1, and 50% in year 2. Lamb mortality was higher in both years in the treatment ewes than in control ewes. None of these differences reached significance.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 106 , Issue 2 , April 1986 , pp. 383 - 387
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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

Agricultural Research Council (1965). The Nutrient Requirements of Farm Livestock, No. 2 Ruminants. London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Agricultural Research Council (1980). The Nutrient Requirements of Farm Livestock. Slough: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux.Google Scholar
Ap Griffith, G. & Walters, R. J. K. (1966). The sodium and potassium content of some grass genera, species and varieties. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 67, 81–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Armitage, P. (1983). Statistical Methods in Medical Research, pp. 430–433. Oxford and London: Blackwell Scientific Publications.Google Scholar
Evans, J. V. (1963).Inherited physiological individuality in ruminants. In Progress in Nutrition and Allied Sciences (ed. Cuthbertson, D. P.), pp. 199–212. Edinburgh and London: Oliver and Boyd.Google Scholar
Heath, D. & Williams, D. R. (1979). Studies in Biology, No. 112, Life at High Altitude. London: Institute of Biology.Google Scholar
Meat & Livestock Commission (1981). Feeding the Ewe. Bletchley: M.L.C., Queensway House.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1976). Nutrient Allowances and Composition of Feedingstuffs for Ruminants, Booklet 2087. Pinner, Middlesex: M.A.F.F.Google Scholar
Perkin-Elmer, (1973). Clinical Methods for Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.A.: Perkin-Elmer.Google Scholar
Perkin-Elmer, (1976). Analytical Methods for Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.A.: Perkin-Elmer.Google Scholar
Scottish Agricultural Colleges (1978). Nutrient Allowances for Cattle and Sheep, publication No. 29.Google Scholar
Vincent, I. C. (1983). A study of nutritional factors influencing reproduction and growth in Blackface sheep in the Colombian Andes, with particular reference to the effect of dietary sodium. Ph.D. thesis, University of London.Google Scholar