TY - JOUR
T1 - Live-weight, total body-water and maternal body-solid changes in pregnant and lactating beef cows
AU - Degen, A. A.
AU - Young, B. A.
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank J. A. Francis, L. Gedge and C. A. Breakey for their care of the animals and technical assistance and Dr R. T. Hardin for statistical advice. This study was supported by grants from the Agricultural Research Council of Alberta, the Alberta Agricultural Research Trust and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council, Canada.
PY - 1980/1/1
Y1 - 1980/1/1
N2 - Live weight and total body water (TBW; measured as tritiated water space) were measured in eight pregnant cross-bred beef cows from the 6th month of gestation to approximately 1 month after calving. Using the values from these measurements and by estimating foetal, foetal fluid and foetal membrane weights from previously established prediction equations, the maternal live weight, maternal body water and maternal body solids were calculated. Live weight, TBW, maternal body water and maternal live weight increased during gestation, whereas maternal body solids decreased. The TBW percentage of live weight increased from 74.8 to 79.6% during gestation and remained at about 79.5% during the first month of lactation. It was concluded that live-weight changes alone could be misleading in assessing the energy balance of pregnant ruminants not only because of development of the foetus and associated structures but also because of maternal hydration.
AB - Live weight and total body water (TBW; measured as tritiated water space) were measured in eight pregnant cross-bred beef cows from the 6th month of gestation to approximately 1 month after calving. Using the values from these measurements and by estimating foetal, foetal fluid and foetal membrane weights from previously established prediction equations, the maternal live weight, maternal body water and maternal body solids were calculated. Live weight, TBW, maternal body water and maternal live weight increased during gestation, whereas maternal body solids decreased. The TBW percentage of live weight increased from 74.8 to 79.6% during gestation and remained at about 79.5% during the first month of lactation. It was concluded that live-weight changes alone could be misleading in assessing the energy balance of pregnant ruminants not only because of development of the foetus and associated structures but also because of maternal hydration.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=28244451495&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0021859600029178
DO - 10.1017/S0021859600029178
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:28244451495
SN - 0021-8596
VL - 95
SP - 1
EP - 5
JO - Journal of Agricultural Science
JF - Journal of Agricultural Science
IS - 1
ER -