| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Henrique, Fabio Luis
[1]
;
Lencioni Titto, Evaldo Antonio
[1]
;
Zanella, Adoraldo Jose
[2]
;
Hooper, Henrique Barbosa
[1]
;
Pulido-Rodriguez, Lina Fernanda
[1]
;
Silva Longo, Ana Luisa
[1]
;
da Cunha Leme-dos-Santos, Thays Mayra
[1]
;
Franco Pereira, Alfredo Manoel
[3]
;
Titto, Cristiane Goncalves
[1]
Total Authors: 9
|
| Affiliation: | [1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Zootecnia & Engn Alimentos, Pirassununga, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Pirassununga, SP - Brazil
[3] Univ Evora, Inst Ciencias Agr & Ambientais Mediterran, Evora - Portugal
Total Affiliations: 3
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | Small Ruminant Research; v. 155, p. 39-44, OCT 2017. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 1 |
| Abstract | |
Stress during pregnancy negatively affects fetal development, and artificial weaning can negatively affect animal health and welfare; however, maternal care can reverse the possible consequences of stress on the offspring. Our study aims to determine the combined effect of a prenatal disease challenge and artificial weaning on welfare and productive performance of lambs. During pregnancy, 43 ewes were distributed into three experimental groups, and at 70th and 120th days of pregnancy (Ig;n = 14; Fg = 14;), the ewes were administered with Escherichia coil Lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Fifteen ewes were included in the control group (Cg = 15). Cortisol and rectal temperature measurements were done subsequently to LPS or saline injection. Fourty-six lambs (21 males; 25 females) born in a six-day interval from Ig, Fg, and Cg ewes were subjected to two types of weaning, namely progressive (from 39 to 45 days) and abrupt (at 45 days of age). Lamb data, including plasma cortisol levels, rectal temperature, weaning weight, and performance in feedlot were analyzed and compared through F test and Student's t-test (PDIFF; P = 0.05). The injection of LPS resulted in a 619% increase in cortisol levels after two hours, and rectal temperature reached 39.48 +/- 0.134 degrees C after four hours of LPS administration in a pregnant sheep. Both male and female lambs from the Fg group had lower birth weight (P < 0.05) as compared to other groups. Cortisol levels and rectal temperature decreased during progressive weaning (P < 0.05), in which a higher weaning weight was observed than in abrupt weaning (P < 0.05). On the first day at feedlot, cortisol level was reduced after 60 min upon entrance (P < 0.05), and higher cortisol values were observed during abrupt weaning (P < 0.05). Lower values of dry mater intake and average daily gain were observed for Fg males (P < 0.05). LPS challenge during late pregnancy compromised the lambs' indicators of productive performance. Albeit progressive weaning was less stressful during feedlot entrance and total bond separation, more days of maternal care during weaning had no relation with stress during pregnancy. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 13/25004-9 - Cortisol to cortisone: benefical conversion on birth stress and development of the lamb? |
| Grantee: | Cristiane Gonçalves Titto |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |
| FAPESP's process: | 13/08180-8 - Stress during pregnancy and weaning and its influence on the performance of lambs |
| Grantee: | Fábio Luís Henrique |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |