VARIATIONS IN PLASMA COMPONENTS IN LACTATING MARES AT LATE PREGNANCY-EARLY LACTATION

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 12  (3) , 219-225
Abstract
In an experiment comparing pregnant then lactating mares with dry non-pregnant mares, the changes in plasma components were studied as indicators of the metabolic utilization of energy (glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, .beta.-hydroxybutyrate), nitrogen (urea, proteins) or minerals (Ca, P, Mg). The mares were fed daily 2 kg concentrate and hay ad libitum. .beta.-Hydroxybutyrate, Mg and to a lesser extent glucose were the only constituents whose levels were affected within the period starting 1 mo. before and ending 1 mo. after foaling. The increase in food intake between late pregnancy and early lactation may be explained by an increase in nutrient requirements, since plasmatic levels of non-esterified fatty acids and urea, known to be indicators of body lipids mobilization and nitrogen status respectively, remained constant.

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