TITLE:
Effects of protein restriction in utero on the metabolism of mink dams (Neovison vison) and on mink kit survival as well as on postnatal growth
AUTHORS:
Kristine Vesterdorf, Adrian Harrison, Connie Frank Matthiesen, Anne-Helene Tauson
KEYWORDS:
Intrauterine Metabolic Programming; Nitrogen Metabolism; Reproduction Performance; Growth Rate; Postnatal Development; Organ Development
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.2 No.1,
January
5,
2012
ABSTRACT: Protein restriction in utero may give rise to restricted growth as well as induce metabolically related diseases. In order to determine the suitability of mink as an animal model for metabolism studies, the effects of protein restriction during gestation on dam and kit performance must first be determined. Mink dams were fed an adequate protein (AP; crude protein:fat:carbohydrate ratio of 31:55:14% of metabolizable energy, ME) or a low protein diet (LP; 19%:49%: 32% of ME) during the last 21.2 ± 3.3 days of gestation, followed by an adequate diet during lactation. Respiration and balance experiments were performed during late gestation and twice during lactation. The dietary treatment only affected energy metabolism traits significantly during the treatment period in late gestation, such that LP dams oxidized less protein (12% vs 23% of heat production, HE, P = 0.001) but more carbohydrate (37% vs 26% of HE, P -0.75.day-1, P