Effects of carbohydrate-free diets on the performance of lactating mink(Mustela vison) and the growth performance of suckling kits
Damgaard BM; Borsting CF; Ingvartsen KL; Fink R
Abstract The effects of carbohydrate-free diets on body weight changes, feedconsumption, and plasma concentrations of nutrients, metabolites, and hormones in lactating mink andon growth performance in kits were investigated in a total of 108 litters during the lactationperiod of seven weeks. The litters were distributed in three experimental groups fed differentratios of metabolisable energy (ME) derived from protein and fat (61:38; 47:52; 33:66). The femalesand kits were weighed at parturition and 2, 3, 4, and 7 weeks after parturition. Blood samples werecollected from females in the second, fourth, and sixth week of the lactation period.Carbohydrate-free diets fed to lactating mink can in principle support normal performance, health ofthe females, and growth performance of the kits. However, mink need a sufficient supply ofavailable gluconeogenic precursors in the form of amino acids. In the present experiment, the dietwith 33% of ME from protein contained insufficient amounts of gluconeogenic precursors for lactatingmink, and three weeks post partum this group was excluded from the experiment. The differences indietary protein level (61% and 47% of ME) and fat level (38% and 52% of ME) influenced the plasmaconcentrations of free fatty acids (FFA) and urea, but had minimal influence on plasmaconcentrations of other nutrients, metabolites, and hormones.
Keywords Body weight changes; Ffa; Plasma metabolites and hormones; Protein and;Weight changes; Protein; Period; Fat
Acta agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A, Animal science
0906-4702, Volume 53, Issue 3, 2003, Pages 127-135
