Effects of high dietary levels of fresh or oxidised fish oil on performanceand blood parameters in female mink (Mustela vison) during the winter, reproduction, lactation andearly growth periods
Damgaard BM; Borsting CF; Engberg RM; Jensen SK
Abstract The effects of high dietary levels of fresh or moderately oxidised fish oilon performance and blood parameters in mink females were investigated during the winter,reproduction, and lactation periods. Furthermore, the effects of the diets on kit performance wereinvestigated during the lactation and early growth periods. The investigation was carried out with atotal of 292 females distributed in five experimental groups fed fresh fish oil stored frozen,fresh fish oil ensiled, oxidised fish oil stored frozen,. oxidised fish oil ensiled, and soya oil,respectively. The females were weighed three times during the winter period, and the females and thekits were weighed at parturition and 2, 4, and 7 weeks post partum. Blood samples were collectedfrom the females and the kits 6 and 8 weeks post partum, respectively. The results show that highdietary levels of fresh or moderately oxidised fish oil could be used for mink females during thewinter and reproduction periods without any negative effects on performance, health and reproductionresults. However, high levels of fish oil resulted in lower kit weights at weaning. These negativeeffects on kit growth were related to the dietary composition fed during the lactation and earlygrowth periods and not to the diet used during the preceding winter and pregnancy periods. A highintake of polyunsaturated fatty acids resulted in a decreased number of blood platelets for bothmink females and their kits.
Keywords Haematological indices; Kit growth; Mink kits; Platelets; Reproduction;Growing-furring period; Polyunsaturated fatty-acids; Vitamin-e; Clinical-chemistry; Supplementation;Inclusion; Products; Acetate; Health
Acta agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A, Animal science
0906-4702, Volume 53, Issue 3, 2003, Pages 136-146
