WEIGHT-GAIN, REPRODUCTION, AND SURVIVAL OF SYRIAN-HAMSTERS FED 5 NATURAL INGREDIENT DIETS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 31  (2) , 149-155
Abstract
Five natural ingredient diets were fed from weaning until 75 wk of age to groups of 50 male and 50 female Syrian hamsters. Of the diets, 2 were commercially available and the other 3 were formulated and prepared in the laboratory. All females were mated with males fed the same diet, and 3 litters from each female were observed until weaning. The parent generation of animals was maintained until 50% of the longest surviving group had died. At that time all survivors were killed. Growth rates were similar with all diets; body weights were significantly different in both sexes for mature animals fed different diets, with animals fed 1 of the commercial rations weighing less than animals fed any of the other diets. The percentage of the pairs delivering, the number of offspring weaned per litter and the body weights of the offspring were similar for animals fed the 5 diets. The total number of offspring weaned was greatest with a diet containing corn, soy and alfalfa; and the percentage of stillborn litters was lowest with the corn, soy and alfalfa diet and 1 commercial diet. Death rates were significantly different for male hamsters receiving the 5 diets. Animals fed one of the commercial diets died earlier than animals fed the other diets.