Abstract
The periparturient relaxation of immunity (PPRI) to parasites in mammals is sensitive to both metabolisable protein (MP) supply and animal genotype
(different reproductive outputs). We tested the hypothesis that the sensitivity of PPRI to MP scarcity would not differ between different
levels of reproductive output when nutrient intake is adjusted for associated differences in MP demand; this hypothesis assumes that PPRI has
a nutritional basis only. Scottish Blackface (BF) and the more productive Mule (MU) ewes were infected with the abomasal parasite Teladorsagia
circumcincta, and from day221 to day32 (day0 is parturition), they were fed restrictedly at either 0·8 (low protein (LP)) or 1·3 (high protein (HP))
times their breed-specific estimated MP requirement (n 18 for each breed–feeding treatment combination). During late pregnancy, LP feeding
reduced ewe body weight gain in both breeds, tended to increase faecal egg count (FEC), but it did not affect plasma pepsinogen. During lactation,
LP feeding reduced litter growth rate and ewe plasma urea and plasma albumin concentrations compared with HP feeding in both breeds.
However, breed and feeding treatment interacted for ewe FEC, worm egg excretion and plasma pepsinogen, which were higher for the
LP-MU ewes compared with the HP-MU and BF ewes. The lower degree of PPRI of the BF ewes during lactation compared with the MU
ewes at a similar degree of MP scarcity suggests that the effect of reproductive output on nutritional sensitivity of PPRI cannot be explained
by associated differences in nutrient demand only.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1477 - 1486 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | British Journal of Nutrition |
Volume | 104 |
Publication status | First published - 2010 |
Bibliographical note
6600000966000013
56020007
Keywords
- Breed
- Faecal egg count
- Metabolisable protein
- Teladorsagia circumcincta