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Can maternal iodine supplementation improve twin- and triplet-born lamb plasma thyroid hormone concentrations and thermoregulation capabilities in the first 24–36 h of life?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2010

J. I. KERSLAKE ,
P. R. KENYON ,
K. J. STAFFORD ,
S. T. MORRIS  and
P. C. H. MOREL
J. I. KERSLAKE*
Affiliation:
Sheep Research Centre and the National Centre for Growth and Development, College of Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North4442, New Zealand
P. R. KENYON
Affiliation:
Sheep Research Centre and the National Centre for Growth and Development, College of Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North4442, New Zealand
K. J. STAFFORD
Affiliation:
Sheep Research Centre and the National Centre for Growth and Development, College of Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North4442, New Zealand
S. T. MORRIS
Affiliation:
Sheep Research Centre and the National Centre for Growth and Development, College of Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North4442, New Zealand
P. C. H. MOREL
Affiliation:
Sheep Research Centre and the National Centre for Growth and Development, College of Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North4442, New Zealand
*
*To whom all correspondence should be addressed. Email: jkerslake@abacusbio.co.nz
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Summary

The present study investigated the effects of maternal plasma iodine concentration on twin- and triplet-born lamb plasma thyroid hormone concentrations, rectal temperature and maximal heat production. On pregnancy day 68 (P68), 16 twin- and 14 triplet-bearing ewes were randomly chosen from ewes that were injected intramuscularly with 1·5 ml of iodized peanut oil and ewes that were not. Selected ewes were grazed on ad libitum pasture from P68 until parturition. After parturition, lamb blood samples were collected within 5 min of birth and at 3, 12 and 24–36 h after birth. Lamb rectal temperatures were measured within 5 min of birth and at 1, 3 and 12 h after birth. Lamb body weight, crown–rump length and thoracic-girth circumference were recorded at 3 h of age, and the capability of the lamb to produce heat at 24–36 h of age was measured using indirect open-circuit calorimetry. Maternal iodine supplementation successfully increased plasma iodine concentrations of twin- and triplet-bearing ewes throughout pregnancy, but had no effect on the rectal temperature, thyroid hormone concentration and maximal heat production of twin- or triplet-born lambs. Compared with twin-born lambs, triplet-born lambs had lower birth weights, rectal temperatures and plasma T4 and T3 concentrations within 5 min of birth. Overall, under the conditions of the present study, maternal iodine supplementation offered no benefit in improving lamb heat production.

Type
Animals
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 148 , Issue 4 , August 2010 , pp. 453 - 463
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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