NUTRITIONAL EVALUATIONS OF 3 DIETARY LEVELS OF LACTALBUMIN THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN OF 2 GENERATIONS OF SYRIAN-HAMSTERS

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Abstract
Syrian hamsters were fed 1 of 3 levels of lactalbumin (10, 20 or 40%) or a commercial diet from 4 wk of age. The hamsters were mated at 12 wk of age and parents (F0) and offspring (F1) remained for life on the assigned parental diet. Hamsters from both generations were killed to evaluate nutritional status at 4, 10, 22, 34 and 64 wk of age. Remaining hamsters were allowed to live out their natural lifespan. Female hamsters generally grew faster with each increment in lactalbumin. Growth was greatest in male hamsters on the 20% lactalbumin diet and greater in the F1 than in the F0. Reproduction was superior in hamsters fed the commercial diet and differed by season in those given purified diets, with the best performance following the autumn matings. Litter size and body weights of offspring at weaning increased from hamsters fed 10% of those fed higher levels. In the F0, the longest female lifespans were observed in the 20 and 40% lactalbumin groups, with shorter survivals in the 10% and commercially fed groups, respectively. The F1 females had longer survivals with each increase in lactalbumin. Male survival in both generations increased from the commercial diet to the 40 and 10% lactalbumin levels and was greatest in males fed 20% lactalbumin diet.